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Integrative Anatomical Sciences

Research

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Research

The Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences is a hub for exploring movement, structure and function in humans and other organisms. Our scientists build on their important contributions to biological understanding in collaboration with biokinesiologists, engineers, neuroscientists and more.

Diverse range of translational research.

We have research strengths in

  • Functional morphology arises from the tradition of comparative vertebrate anatomy. Current research aims to understand how organisms move and emphasizes the study of bone structure, muscular activity and high-resolution kinematic analysis. We have established our department as a major center for research in studying the evolution of locomotion from pterosaurs to early hominids. Faculty pursuing research in functional morphology include: Kris Carlson, Adam Huttenlocker, Kristi Lewton, Biren Patel, and Erik Seiffert.

  • Our faculty focuses on translational biomedical science areas that encompass a broad range of topics, including: renal molecular mechanisms controlling blood pressure, dietary chemotherapeutic agents, miRNA in prostate cancer and the neurobiology of behavior. These faculty members include: Rayudu Gopalakrishna, and Ruth Wood.

Affiliated institutes

Research core facilities are established in the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and the USC Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC. These include light and ultrastructural imaging, stem cell production, drug discovery, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence cell sorting, preparative biochemistry, in utero, brain and cellular gene transfer methods, and molecular biology. Other interdisciplinary research occurs throughout the Keck School of Medicine.