Assistant Professor Zhaoyang Liu hopes her research will not only help people with growth limitations but also advance the understanding of craniofacial biology. HOW DOES THE GROWTH PLATE — the region of cartilage that drives the lengthening of long bones — remain active during childhood and adolescence? Could understanding that process eventually help people whose […]
The R01 grant is the third such NIH award earned by Ostrow researcher and faculty member Dechen Lin, an accomplishment made all the more impressive given the extremely competitive funding environment. HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS are the seventh most prevalent form of cancer, but patient treatment responses can vary greatly. For many people, […]
After decades of research, Ostrow faculty member Janet Moradian-Oldak prepares to bring a short peptide that can generate a biomimetic version of tooth enamel to market. FOR DECADES, PROFESSOR JANET MORADIAN-OLDAK has toiled in the Oldak Lab, working to better understand biomineralization — the process by which biological organisms create mineralized tissue such as shells, […]
A new clinic for treating precancerous oral lesions using several treatment options, including the first prospective clinical trial for imiquimod — a medication approved for skin cancer. It could revolutionize oral cancer treatment.
A recent Nature Communications article sheds light on how fluid drainage systems may worsen jaw pain in the 5 to 8 percent of Americans affected by temporomandibular joint disorders. PROBLEMS WITH JAW JOINTS and muscles — also known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD) — cause pain in the jaw, face or ears, as well as clicking, […]
Dechen Lin’s new work focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade therapy. FOR PEOPLE WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCERS, the treatment can sometimes be as challenging as the disease. Traditional chemo- and radiation therapies can leave patients with long-term disabilities. Because these treatments can create immobility around the face and neck, some patients […]
USC researcher Pinghui Feng’s new paper looks at the way metabolic enzymes can change immune responses. METABOLIC ENZYMES ARE MOSTLY KNOWN for their work in metabolism — the process whereby a cell’s energy guides actions like building up or breaking down molecules. But metabolic enzymes have another biological process — immunity. The tug of war […]
Get to know one of Ostrow’s newest researchers, Lu Wang, who brings to Ostrow her research prowess in role of environmental stress and non-neuronal cells in developing treatments for ailments such as childhood brain tumors.
The work shows the web of interactions within cells as they try to ward off infections UNTANGLING COMPLEX INTERACTIONS THAT GOVERN SICKNESS AND HEALTH, Professor Pinghui Feng studies viral infections and their interaction with cellular metabolic enzymes. These enzymes act on small molecules inside a cell to construct building blocks for cell growth and proliferation. […]
Amy Merrill PhD ’04 has recently received an eight-year grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AMY MERRILL is driven by the desire to impact clinical care outcomes — especially for rare diseases. By studying rare diseases in the face and head, she can learn about the normal process of […]
