Latest Updates

• USC and Techstars Celebrate a Powerful University Catalyst Cohort GraduationJanuary 23, 2026
  Author – Ethan Bochicchio Another successful USC and Techstars University Catalyst Program has come to a close, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of USC’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Over ten weeks, the program transformed early-stage ideas into more disciplined, market-ready ventures, while giving founders a clearer understanding of what it takes to build…
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• OORI-Supported Effort + USC Faculty-Led Company Forges New Partnership with NASA  January 23, 2026
  Author – Ethan Bochicchio The University of Southern California’s (USC) Office of Research and Innovation (OORI) is thrilled to announce that Arkisys Inc., a company founded and led by USC Professor David Barnhart, has been selected as the maintenance and commercial sustaining partner for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Astrobee, the free-flying robotic…
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• From Lab to Market: OORI Unveils Unified Funding Pipeline for Research and InnovationDecember 15, 2025
  Author: Jordan Locy and Ethan Bochicchio The University of Southern California’s Office of Research and Innovation (OORI) is amplifying its focus on groundbreaking discovery and commercial translation by launching a broader range of internal funding opportunities. Through the Research Catalyst Program (RCP) and the Innovation Catalyst Program (ICP), OORI has combined previous initiatives to maximize…
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• Post-Award Success for USC Student Empowerment Award Team in Schaeffer CenterNovember 17, 2025
  Author—Ethan Bochicchio Last year, the Office of Research and Innovation (OORI) at the University of Southern California (USC) saw its first class of Student Empowerment Award recipients. The OORI’s Student Empowerment Award seeks to support undergraduate and graduate students, as well as their faculty mentors, in engaging in groundbreaking research and early-stage entrepreneurship that results…
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• USC AMI Makes Exciting Investment in USC Faculty-Led Company, CpG DiagnosticsOctober 27, 2025
  Author: Jordan Locy, Ethan Bochicchio & Aaron K. Nordman In September 2020, Dr. Bodour Salhia founded CpG Diagnostics, intent on transforming cancer diagnostics through innovative epigenetic technology. High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), the most aggressive subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer, requires timely specialist management. Utilizing the patented OvaPrint, the only cell-free DNA methylation blood test…
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• USC AMI Makes Exciting Investment in USC Faculty-Led Company, PlurocartOctober 6, 2025
  Author: Jordan Locy & Ethan Bochicchio In late 2021, researchers Denis Evseenko and Frank Petrigliano were awarded a $6 million grant from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine for their breakthrough, having used a stem cell-based bio-implant to delay joint degeneration and repair cartilage in a large animal model. Today, joined by Jay R. Lieberman,…
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• USC and Techstars Welcome New Cohort of University Catalyst CompaniesSeptember 12, 2025
  The University of Southern California (USC) and Techstars are proud to announce the newest cohort of university catalyst companies selected for the USC and Techstars program. The USC and Techstars program is a collaborative effort led by USC’s Office of Research and Innovation (OORI), that brings Techstars expertise and programmatic offerings to USC students and…
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• USC OORI News: Applications Now Open for the 2026 USC & Techstars AcceleratorSeptember 12, 2025
  The University of Southern California (USC) and Techstars are thrilled to announce that applications for the 2026 USC & Techstars Accelerator are officially open as of August 25, 2025. The USC and Techstars program is a collaborative effort led by USC’s Office of Research and Innovation (OORI) that brings Techstars’ expertise and programmatic offerings to…
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• USC’s Alfred E. Mann Institute Set to Announce New Innovation-Driven InvestmentsSeptember 8, 2025
  The University of Southern California’s Alfred E. Mann Institute (AMI) is preparing to announce a new round of strategic investments in groundbreaking medical technologies and innovations. Under the leadership of Managing Director Tariq Warsi, AMI continues to advance its mission of bridging the gap between early-stage biomedical research and commercially viable products that improve and…
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• Monthly Newsletter – July 2025August 1, 2025
  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…
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