Ignite YOUR Discovery

At the Keck School of Medicine, we tackle the most complex issues in human health.

With innovations in medical research, education, and patient care, we spark groundbreaking advancements that drive the future of medicine.

Pushing Boundaries Through Research

From revealing processes behind disease to moving novel treatments into the clinic, we combine bold inquiry, state-of-the-art technology and interdisciplinary teamwork to transform lives and help society leap ahead.

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Keck School Dean Appointed to CIRM Board

Acclaimed higher-ed leader, researcher and neuroradiologist Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD, who leads the Keck School of Medicine of USC, takes on a governance role with California’s state stem cell agency.

USC Researchers Pioneer New Brain Imaging Technique Through Clear ‘Window’ in Patient’s Skull

In a proof-of-concept study, a research team based at the Keck School of Medicine of USC showed that functional ultrasound imaging can record brain activity through a transparent skull implant.

Researchers Identify Key Cause of Pregnancy Sickness and a Potential Way to Prevent It

The study finds that a hormone produced by the fetus – and a mother’s sensitivity to the hormone – are the cause behind nausea and vomiting during pregnancy which, in its more extreme form, can put the mother and fetus at risk.

Launching tomorrow’s leaders

The Keck School’s world-class scientific and medical education launches the next generation of health care leaders.

Students get an unparalleled breadth of hands-on experience to excel in their fields and improve health globally.

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Keck School Ramps Up Diet and Exercise Training for Primary Care Medical Students

The Keck School of Medicine of USC Primary Care Initiative launched a new curriculum focused on nutrition and exercise for medical students in the primary care pipeline track. The training is designed to give medical students the tools they need to guide patients on dietary and exercise changes that would help them reach their target health goals.

Double Victory: Residency Classmates Turned USC Faculty Achieve NIH Funding Success

In early 2024, ophthalmologists Sun Young Lee, MD, PhD, a retina specialist and Benjamin Xu, MD, PhD, a glaucoma specialist, celebrated a significant achievement – both were awarded their first R01 grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Remarkably, Lee and Xu’s journeys began together over a decade ago when they started residency training at USC in 2013.

Alumni Spotlight: Meet Iona Cheng, PhD, MPH, Building the Evidence Base in Cancer Research for Asian Americans

Iona Cheng, PhD, MPH, is co-leading a new study to uncover the causes of cancer in Asian Americans. Through a $12.45 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, she hopes to uncover the burden of cancer in this understudied group.

Taking On Health Care’s Biggest Challenges

From our private clinics to our affiliated safety-net hospitals, our deep expertise, cutting-edge technology and human connection lead to world-class care.

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New Technology ‘Lights Up’ Bacteria in Wounds for Better Infection Prevention

New research conducted at Keck Medicine suggests a new method using autofluorescence (AF) imaging to detect bacteria during wound debridement, which could significantly improve patient outcomes, particularly for those with diabetic foot wounds.

Cannabis Use Tied to Head and Neck Cancer

A study from the USC Head and Neck Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC and the USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, suggests that cannabis, the most commonly used illicit substance worldwide, is associated with an increased occurrence of head and neck cancer.

Cirrhosis Affects Twice as Many Transgender Adults as Cisgender Adults

A new study from Keck Medicine of USC discovers a startling disparity in the frequency of liver disease for transgender individuals and highlights the need for more specialized care.

Improving Health For Our Diverse Communities

At the Keck School, we are passionate about advancing health and wellness for diverse local and global communities.

Through community-based research, service-learning, and collaborations with local organizations, we address health disparities and create a future where everyone can thrive.

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USC Street Medicine Surpasses Growth Expectations, Hitting Multiple Milestones to Start 2024

The USC Street Medicine program hits multiple new milestones while also expanding from what was once a nascent program, with only one full-time employee, to one that now deploys five fully-staffed teams providing health care to people who are unhoused throughout the city of Los Angeles.

Claradina Soto, PhD, Testifies on Growing Fentanyl Crisis in Native American Communities

During her oral testimony, Soto, who identifies as Navajo and Jemez Pueblo, described the unique challenges and vulnerabilities that have contributed to the opioid crisis among American Indian and Alaska Native populations.

USC BRAIN Program Offers a Second Chance, With a Path to a Career in Bioscience

Life-altering opportunities are on the curriculum, alongside lab training, through the BRAIN program at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Collaborating: Making the Impossible Possible

Tackling the biggest challenges in health is a venture bigger than any one discipline. Together, we take the biggest leaps forward in health.

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Out Of Options: The Drugs Don’t Work. Therapy Doesn’t Work. What’s Left?

The USC Street Medicine program hits multiple new milestones while also expanding from what was once a nascent program, with only one full-time employee, to one that now deploys five fully-staffed teams providing health care to people who are unhoused throughout the city of Los Angeles.

USC-Caltech Team Tests New Noninvasive Tool to Predict Stroke Risk

During her oral testimony, Soto, who identifies as Navajo and Jemez Pueblo, described the unique challenges and vulnerabilities that have contributed to the opioid crisis among American Indian and Alaska Native populations.

New Study Demonstrates Impact of Interprofessional Collaboration on Health Sciences Education and Practice

When five USC health sciences schools were brought together under one umbrella, part of the university’s Transforming Health Sciences moonshot, a principal goal was to create a new, integrated and interprofessional approach to the education and practice of health care.