Dear Colleagues, As we approach the start of the new academic year, this month’s research update includes announcements, policy changes, and resources to support your work to make full use of the opportunities that lie ahead of us. Here, you will find: I encourage you to review the full update for details and share relevant…
The University of Southern California has secured a major success in advancing university–industry partnerships through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Professors Brian E. Applegate, PhD, and John S. Oghalai, MD, along with their company partner AO Technologies LLC, have been awarded a Phase I NIH STTR grant…
Last month, a team of USC researchers led by Vaia Lida Chatzi, MD, PhD, a Keck School of Medicine Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences, won an $8 million five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to launch the Southern California Superfund Research and Training Program for PFAS Assessment, Remediation and Prevention Center (ShARP Center). It…
Between May 19 and May 22, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) hosted its LABEST Week, consisting of a series of events engaging Los Angeles stakeholders ranging from an array of medical and biological fields relating to technology and innovation. Institutions from the University of Southern California (USC) were sure to take part, USC being represented by the…
Dear Colleagues, Since our last update, the President’s FY26 budget request to Congress was released, followed by agency briefings outlining priorities. While these proposals are not yet final and remain under Senate review, they offer early insight into shifting federal research directions. This evolving landscape has brought uncertainty. The OORI team is closely monitoring developments…
On June 5, 2025, a packed house at USC’s Trojan Grand Ballroom witnessed the culmination of the first-ever USC and Techstars Digital Economy Accelerator, as nine dynamic startup teams pitched their ventures during an electrifying Demo Day. The event marked the official close of the 13-week accelerator, a groundbreaking collaboration between USC’s Office of Research and Innovation and Techstars, one of…
As an undergraduate at the USC Marshall School of Business, Wednesday Satterlee didn’t arrive on campus with a clear career path—but she left with a passion for innovation and a drive to support early-stage entrepreneurship. Thanks to mentorship and immersive experiences supported by the Office of Research and Innovation (OORI), Satterlee discovered a new direction…
The University of Southern California has officially launched innovation.usc.edu, a new website dedicated to elevating innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup activity across the university. Developed by the Office of Research and Innovation, the platform went live on May 30, 2025, and serves as a central gateway for the entire Trojan community to explore the people, programs,…
On April 29, 2025, the USC Office of Research and Innovation officially welcomed the inaugural class of the Early Career Innovator Award recipients, marking the launch of a new internal program designed to empower undergraduate and graduate students interested in innovation, startups, and translational research. Held at Rock & Reilly’s USC, the welcome mixer brought…
Dear Colleagues, At the close of the academic year, please accept my deepest gratitude for your extraordinary efforts, creativity, and resilience. From advancing groundbreaking research to driving the next generation of innovation, your contributions elevate our university’s impact. To support you, your Office of Research and Innovation team has been advancing internal funding programs, strengthening resources for…
