Basic Research
Basic sciences researchers represent multiple divisions and illustrate our missions of building an outstanding research workforce for the future.
Department of Medicine faculty members have continued to garner outstanding NIH grant support at a time of intense competition for extramural funding.
Research Areas
Cardiovascular Devices Program
The Cardiovascular Devices Program, led by Leslie Saxon, MD, is dedicated to the development of innovative uses of new implantable device technologies. Such new technologies will allow the introduction of major preventive and/or critical therapeutic measures at the earliest stages of disease development.
Center for Molecular Pathways and Drug Discovery
The Center for Molecular Pathways and Drug Discovery, focuses on accelerating the pace of drug discovery and the development of less toxic and more effective therapies for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, co-directs the center with Michael Kahn, PhD from the USC School of Pharmacy.
Circulating Tumor Cell Research Center
The Circulating Tumor Cell Research Center, founded by Amir Goldkorn, MD, is a state-of-the-art, multi-platform facility for the capture and analysis of peripheral blood circulating tumor cells.
The Diabetes and Obesity Research Center
The Diabetes and Obesity Research Center was established to investigate the origin, prevention and treatment of diabetes and associated conditions (including obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and atherosclerosis). Thomas A. Buchanan, MD, shares the leadership role in developing this important multidisciplinary research program with Michael Goran, PhD, from the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences.
The Gehr Family Center for Implementation Health Systems Science
The Gehr Family Center for Implementation Science, established by David Goldstein, MD, and led by Michael Hochman, MD, creates innovative collaborations to develop and promote sustainable, efficient, clinical quality improvement strategies. Working with partners such as LAC+USC, the Center identities and integrates best practices into routine health care for patients.
The Gehr Family Center for Rare Blood Disorders
The Gehr Family Center for Rare Blood Disorders, led by Casey O’Connell, MD, conducts translational research into blood diseases such as myelodysplastic syndromes, which can lead to leukemia and AML, the most common adult acute leukemia.
Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research (HCPR)
The Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research (HCPR), under the direction of Zea Borok, MD, strives to be a leader in lung biology and disease research. HCPR scientists interact with clinicians to translate their research findings into clinical applications.
The Lupus Center
The Lupus Center, led by William Stohl, PhD, MD, uses information gained by laboratory bench research to serve as the basis for the development of prototype treatment strategies for a wide variety of autoimmune diseases.
Research Center for Cell Therapy
The Research Center for Cell Therapy, led by Preet Chaudhary, MD, PhD, will strengthen and expand the existing capabilities of cell based therapies by bringing together basic, translational and clinical investigators working on developing novel cell based therapies for the treatment of hard-to-treat diseases, such as immunodeficiency disorders, autoimmune disorders, genetic diseases and in-born errors of metabolism.
Research Center for Liver Diseases
The NIH-sponsored Research Center for Liver Diseases and core laboratories (Molecular Biology, Cell Culture and Organelle), led by Neil K. Kaplowitz, MD, is one of only four such programs in the nation. In addition to basic and translational research programs in liver disease, this center provides a major institutional resource for multidisciplinary and interdepartmental investigations, educational seminars and start-up grant funding opportunities.
USC Center for Body Computing
The USC Center for Body Computing, led by Leslie Saxon, MD, is dedicated to the development of innovative uses of new implantable device technologies. Such new technologies will allow the introduction of major preventive and/or critical therapeutic measures at the earliest stages of disease development.
USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center
The USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center, founded by Vito Campese, MD, and led by Kenneth Hallows, MD, PhD, is dedicated to the belief that collaboration among scientists is key to understanding and eliminating chronic kidney disease (CKD). The center focuses on the research of the mechanisms of hypertension, acute kidney injury, acid regulation and its role in CKD, polycystic kidney disease and metabolomics biomarkers, and kidney cancer.
Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center
The Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center, under the direction of Edward D. Crandall, PhD, MD, and Zea Borok, MD, continues to contribute significant advances in research related to lung injury and pulmonary edema. Their investigational focus involves studies on transport, growth and differentiation of lung alveolar epithelial cells from the cellular/molecular to organ levels.