Cristina L. Zavaleta's lab at the University of Southern California focuses on developing advanced imaging technologies to better understand patient tissues, particularly in cancer research. Her team's innovative approach uses special nanoparticles to provide detailed molecular profiles in a single image, enhancing the way physicians can analyze tissue samples. This work aims to improve personalized treatment by effectively profiling the immune response within tumors and other diseases.

Dr. Ansgar Siemer's lab focuses on the role of intrinsically disordered regions in alpha-synuclein fibrils, proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer's. By studying how these disordered regions interact with other cellular components, the lab aims to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of toxicity and develop potential biomarkers and therapies for these conditions.

Dr. Xiaojiang S Chen's lab at USC focuses on studying a family of proteins called APOBEC, which have critical roles in the immune response against viruses like HIV. The lab explores how these proteins interact with nucleic acids and how viruses can evade these defenses, with the goal of developing new therapeutic strategies for treating viral infections and related cancers. Their work combines structural biology with molecular dynamics to understand these complex interactions.

Dr. Donald B. Arnold's lab focuses on developing innovative methods to trace and study neural circuits in the brain. Their work aims to understand how neural connections change during development, learning, and disease by using advanced techniques for tracking both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The research has significant implications for mapping brain function and could aid in addressing various neurological conditions.

Dr. Li I Zhang's lab at the University of Southern California studies how different parts of the brain process sound. They investigate the inferior colliculus, a key area for hearing, to uncover how various types of brain cells contribute to our ability to perceive and localize sounds. Their research could improve our understanding of hearing disorders and help develop better treatments.

Dr. Kai Chen's lab at USC focuses on improving cancer imaging techniques, specifically through the development of a new PET imaging tracer called [18F]FMAU that measures cancer cell proliferation. The lab is leveraging innovative droplet radiochemistry technology to enhance the production of this tracer, making it faster, safer, and more widely accessible for clinical use. This research aims to provide better tools for assessing tumor responses to treatments, ultimately improving patient care and therapeutic outcomes.

Dr. Megan Laura Mccain's lab at USC focuses on understanding heart injuries, particularly how oxygen levels affect the communication between different cell types in the heart after a heart attack. They use advanced technologies to create models that mimic heart conditions, enabling them to study how these interactions can lead to better treatments for patients recovering from heart attacks. Through their work, they hope to develop new therapies to improve heart health and outcomes.

Dr. Silvia Helena Barcellos' lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding the effects of education on cognitive functioning and dementia risk. The research explores how both the quantity and quality of education can influence the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) later in life. By examining genetic factors and historical education metrics, they aim to provide insights for designing effective public health policies to reduce cognitive decline and ADRD disparities as populations age.

Dr. Titus Johannes Galama's lab focuses on understanding cognitive functioning and dementia by leveraging genetic data and social science methodologies. Through the Understanding America Study, the lab aims to identify risk factors for Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias, using polygenic scores to assess how genetics influences cognitive decline. Their work seeks to connect genetic predispositions with behavioral and environmental influences to improve dementia prevention strategies.

Dr. Arie Kapteyn's lab focuses on understanding health disparities across the lifespan, especially in relation to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). By utilizing a comprehensive data infrastructure and incorporating a variety of data sources, including wearables and survey data, the lab aims to identify risk factors and develop interventions to mitigate the impact of ADRD. The research emphasizes a multi-dimensional approach to gather insights into cognitive health changes and enhance precision health models.

Dr. Julie Zissimopoulos' lab focuses on understanding the economic and financial impacts of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The research aims to provide comprehensive and reproducible cost estimates that reflect the true burden of dementia on individuals, families, and society. By leveraging advanced modeling techniques and a multidisciplinary approach, the lab seeks to enhance the capacity for future research and inform healthcare decision-making regarding dementia care and support.

Dr. Irene E Chiolo's lab focuses on understanding how cells repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that occur due to various environmental factors and normal cellular processes. Specifically, the lab studies repair mechanisms in a specialized part of the genome called heterochromatin, which is notoriously difficult to work with due to its complex structure. By investigating the movement and organization of repair sites, the lab aims to uncover the molecular machinery that protects the genome from instability, providing insights into cancer development and potential treatments.

Dr. Hyungjin Eoh's lab focuses on understanding how Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB), develops resistance to antibiotics, particularly in drug-resistant forms of the disease. By investigating the metabolism of trehalose in these bacteria, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms that allow M. tuberculosis to survive antibiotic treatments, which is crucial for developing new therapies. The insights gained from this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with drug-resistant TB, improving public health outcomes worldwide.

Dr. Eun Sok Kim’s lab at the University of Southern California focuses on engineering innovative solutions in healthcare, specifically targeting eye health and respiratory conditions. Their research involves developing a non-invasive approach to isolate cells for eye repair and creating a wearable stethoscope that continuously monitors lung sounds to assist in asthma management for young children. These projects aim to improve patient outcomes through advanced technologies.

Dr. Brian K. Finch's lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding how education influences cognitive health, particularly in relation to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The research investigates the impact of social factors like gender and country of origin on access to education, which in turn affects cognitive outcomes throughout a person's life. By analyzing data from a diverse set of longitudinal studies, the lab aims to uncover the complex relationships between education, genetics, and dementia risk.

Dr. Patrick Ansel Turley's lab focuses on improving genetic research related to aging by developing tools that can analyze data from diverse populations. This includes studying behavioral and social traits as they relate to genetics, which can lead to a better understanding of aging across different cultures and ancestries. The lab's work aims to reduce biases in genetic research and promote inclusivity, ensuring that findings benefit a wider range of populations.

Dr. Tadeja Gracner's lab at the University of Southern California researches how different educational experiences influence cognitive health in older adults. They particularly focus on the impacts of educational quality and content from certain historical periods, like the 1950s-60s, and how these relate to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Through detailed analysis of past educational data, the lab aims to uncover significant effects that education can have on cognitive decline, considering factors like race and socioeconomic status.

Dr. Duke Han's lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding how cognitive decline in older adults can lead to poor financial decision making and increased risk of financial exploitation. The lab studies the relationship between brain health, particularly regions affected in Alzheimer's disease, economic behavior, and cognitive impairment in the aging population. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, the lab aims to develop better early detection and intervention strategies for cognitive health issues in older adults.

Dr. Paula M. Cannon's lab focuses on developing innovative gene and cell therapy strategies to create a cure for HIV. The team emphasizes making these treatments safe, effective, and accessible, especially for people living with HIV in low and middle-income countries. They work on advanced techniques involving gene editing tools, stem cell manipulation, and novel delivery methods to enhance the efficacy of HIV therapies.

Dr. Ha Youn Lee's lab at USC focuses on innovative ways to track and prevent HIV infections through advanced genetic techniques. They have developed a cutting-edge method called microdrop HIV sequencing, which helps monitor HIV trends and potential drug resistance more effectively, especially in areas with limited resources. Their research aims to improve public health response to the AIDS epidemic by providing reliable data for interventions.