(Photo/Cristy Lytal)

The dessert tray and cheese platter seemed self-renewing at the first USC Stem Cell Social, held on Oct. 25 at the Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC. Nearly 100 guests toured the labs, viewed research posters, voted on their favorite scientific images and mingled with researchers and faculty at this public event hosted by USC Stem Cell and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) in honor of Stem Cell Awareness Day. “The social brought together a bright, curious, eclectic group — students and scientists, patients and clinicians, supporters and friends,” said Andrew P. McMahon, PhD, FRS, (pictured), who spearheads the USC Stem Cell initiative, directs the USC stem cell research center and holds a joint appointment at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. “Their energy and enthusiasm propel us forward in this exciting new area of translational medicine.”