USC AMI Makes Exciting Investment in USC Faculty-Led Company, CpG Diagnostics

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…

USC AMI Makes Exciting Investment in USC Faculty-Led Company, Plurocart

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,…

Office of Research & Innovation

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER 2025 Dear Colleagues, This month’s update highlights momentum across OORI responsibilities, from new faculty awards and agency policy updates to fresh opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. You will also find important compliance updates, resources to support proposal development, and stories that showcase how our team is engaging with industry and partners.…

USC and Techstars Welcome New Cohort of University Catalyst Companies

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…

USC OORI News: Applications Now Open for the 2026 USC & Techstars Accelerator

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…

USC’s Alfred E. Mann Institute Set to Announce New Innovation-Driven Investments

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…

Office of Research & Innovation

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – AUGUST 2025 Dear Colleagues, Welcome back to a new academic year!  While research and innovation at USC thrive year-round, the fall semester brings a renewed sense of energy as our campuses fill with students, fresh ideas, and opportunities for collaboration. It is an inspiring time to recommit to advancing discoveries, scholarship, and…

USC Researchers Awarded NIH STTR Grant for Innovative Ear Imaging Device

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…

Office of Research & Innovation

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – JULY 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…

USC and Techstars Celebrate Successful Demo Day for Inaugural Digital Economy Accelerator

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…