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Background
Functional ultrasound imaging is a promising neuroimaging technology with potential to unlock next-generation brain-computer interfaces (BCI). However, ultrasound imaging through the skull is limited by the impedance mismatch between bone and brain tissue, causing reflection, scattering, and signal loss, resulting in poor transmission and...
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Novel lipid-amino acid prodrug platform enhances delivery of nucleoside phosphonate antivirals for SARS-CoV-2 treatment.
Conjugates amino acid promoieties to antiviral compounds to improve solubility, permeability, metabolic activation, and tissue targeting.
Evaluated using an immunosuppressed Syrian hamster model that closely reflects severe...
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Novel ASO therapeutic targeting CCDC146, a newly identified driver of motor neuron degeneration in ALS
Demonstrated efficacy across both sporadic and familial ALS models, supporting broad patient applicability
Improves motor function, neuronal survival, and lifespan in preclinical ALS models
Abstract
USC researchers have developed a targeted antisense...
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Novel small-molecule Piezo1 agonists with high selectivity, strong metabolic stability, and minimal CYP450 interactions
Enhances cerebrospinal fluid and lymphatic drainage through activation of Akt and eNOS signaling pathways
Demonstrated reduction of ventricular fluid accumulation in hydrocephalus animal models, supporting therapeutic potential for...
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Brief description
Inducible expression of T-bet in epithelial cells promotes apoptosis and can be used as an anti-cancer therapy.
Problem
Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with epithelial cell cancers such as colon cancer presenting significant treatment challenges. Traditional approaches like chemotherapy and radiation therapy,...
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Background
Advancements in gene editing have revolutionized biomedical research and therapeutic development, yet current methods lack precise, non-invasive control over gene expression in living organisms. Conventional gene modulation approaches, including chemical inducers and viral vectors, often result in systemic effects, off-target activity, and...
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Background
A key barrier to CAR-T cell therapies for solid tumors is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, where cytokines like TGF-β inhibit T cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, and persistence. TGF-β suppresses immune responses by activating Smad-dependent signaling pathways, leading to T cell anergy and exhaustion. Traditional approaches...
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Background
Solid tumors remain largely resistant to T-cell–based immunotherapies due to poor immune cell infiltration within the tumor microenvironment. The absence of key chemokines limits T-cell trafficking, resulting in “cold” tumors that fail to respond to checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies.
Innovation
USC...
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Background
Cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs) are a primary driver of tumor relapse, metastasis, and resistance to immunotherapy, particularly in solid tumors. Mechanical softness within the tumor microenvironment promotes immune evasion, yet current CAR-T strategies lack effective approaches to identify and eliminate these mechanically resistant cell...
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Market Opportunity
Structure-based virtual ligand screening is emerging as a key paradigm for early drug discovery owing to the availability of high-resolution target structures and ultra-large libraries of virtual compounds. However, to keep pace with the explosive growth of virtual chemical libraries, new approaches to compound screening are needed.
USC...
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