Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC

The Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC was established in 2006 with a gift from Eli and Edythe Broad, and support from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). USC’s stem cell research center hosts world-class scientists as well as shared facilities in imaging; therapeutic screening; flow cytometry; and stem cell isolation, culture and engineering.

For more information, visit broadstemcell.usc.edu

Core Facilities

Chang Stem Cell Engineering Facility
At the stem cell engineering facility, researchers at USC and beyond create tools to study basic biological processes, such as organ development; explore mechanisms underlying various devastating diseases; and generate tools to treat genetic disorders. To assist in these endeavors, the facility genetically modifies embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines. Genetically modified ES and iPS cell lines derived from disease-specific animal models and patients provide an opportunity to investigate the mechanisms of disease and to further develop new treatments for clinical therapy.

Choi Family Therapeutic Screening Facility
At the therapeutic screening facility, researchers can screen a large collection of small molecules to see how they affect various biological processes. They can use these molecules as a tool for their research or identify potential drug leads for future “cures” of the disease of interest. The therapeutic screening facility is comprised of chemical libraries, specialized equipment for cell-based screening and highly trained technicians to run the facility and support investigators.

Flow Cytometry Core Facility
The Flow Cytometry Core Facility provides the research community with state-of-the-art technology to selectively phenotype and isolate specific populations of cells. Using fluorescent probes and transgenic proteins, researchers monitor several aspects of their cell populations, including phenotype, cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle and cell activation. Additionally, cell purification by electrostatic cell sorting enables cutting-edge research on low frequency cells. This essential resource aids investigators performing research in cancer, cancer-related areas, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at USC and in the Los Angeles region.

Microscopy Core Facility
The Microscopy Core Facility provides access to powerful microscopes that enable scientists to take high-resolution pictures of stem cells. These include still images and time-lapse videos. Cells or parts of cells can be labeled with fluorescent dyes, which enable better identification of molecules and structures within cells, or to trace the fate of cells as they migrate, divide and differentiate within tissues.