Mark Humayun named inaugural director of the USC Eye Institute

By Leslie Ridgeway

Mark Humayun with the Argus II artificial retina implant. (Photo/Jon Nalick) Mark Humayun with the Argus II artificial retina implant.
(Photo/Jon Nalick)

Mark Humayun, MD, PhD, internationally known for his work on the Argus II artificial retina implant intended to restore sight to the blind, has been named the inaugural director of the USC Eye Institute and interim chair of the USC Department of Ophthalmology.

In his new role, Humayun will take the reins in overseeing advanced surgical techniques and comprehensive care for patients. He will also continue to lead and guide cutting edge transformative research. … Read More »

November 22nd, 2013|Announcements|

$4 million grant received to study links between maternal stress and childhood obesity

By Sara Reeve

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has awarded a five-year, $4 million grant to a USC research team to discover whether stress in the lives of working mothers influences risk of childhood obesity in their children.

The project, “Maternal Stress and Children’s Obesity Risk,” led by Genevieve Dunton, PhD, MPH, will monitor stress levels in mothers through a smartphone app, as well as through salivary cortisol. … Read More »

November 22nd, 2013|Announcements|

A SAFE HARBOR FOR PATIENTS

Third-year Keck School of Medicine of USC medical student Martin Tolosa examines a patient at the four-day Care Harbor clinic held Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. (Photo/Jon Nalick) Third-year Keck School of Medicine of USC medical student Martin Tolosa examines a patient at the four-day Care Harbor clinic held Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.
(Photo/Jon Nalick)

The annual Care Harbor event provides free medical and dental care to hundreds of people who have limited or no access to health care. (Photo/Jon Nalick) The annual Care Harbor event provides free medical and dental care to hundreds of people who have limited or no access to health care.
(Photo/Jon Nalick)

… Read More »

November 22nd, 2013|Announcements|

First Zilkha Alzheimer’s Mini-Symposium examines vascular system connections

By Christine Chan and Amy E. Hamaker

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and more than five million Americans live with the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Conquering Alzheimer’s was the focus of the first Zilkha Mini­ Symposium on Alzheimer’s Research at USC.

The symposium, held on Aug. 26 in honor of a visit by
the Alzheimer’s Association’s Maria Carrillo, PhD, and Susan Galeas, MSW, MPH, covered a variety of topics, including brain imaging and mapping, genomics, the blood-brain barrier, new therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease and an overview of clinical research at USC. … Read More »

November 20th, 2013|Announcements|

Faculty-produced cancer education film receives prestigious public health award

By Larissa Puro

In this screen capture from the short film Tamale Lesson, the fictional Romeo family discusses cervical cancer screening while making tamales for a Quinceanera. In this screen capture from the short film Tamale Lesson, the fictional Romeo family discusses cervical cancer screening while making tamales for a Quinceanera.

The USC faculty-produced short film Tamale Lesson, which uses narrative storytelling to educate women about cervical cancer screening, received the 2013 APHA Public Health Education & Health Promotion Award for best multimedia material from the American Public Health Association at its annual meeting Nov. 2-6 in Boston.

Cervical cancer is largely preventable and treatable. However, some populations — Latina and Korean women, especially — are not adequately screened, which leads to disproportionately high rates of the disease among them. … Read More »

November 20th, 2013|Announcements|