Research

USC Neurosciences physicians are committed to basic and clinical research with potential to yield new insights into the pathogenesis of neurological diseases and with the goal of translating these insights into more effective disease management and treatments.

Clinical research efforts are focused on conducting clinical trials of pharmaceutical agents, and on defining basic components of clinical diseases that may lead to the development of new treatment strategies. Particular strengths include research in all aspects of neurological disease including Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neuro-oncology, stroke and headache. Basic research efforts involve the use of both in vitro and in vivo approaches to define normal and pathological mechanisms associated with central (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral neural function. Areas of expertise include CNS inflammation and neuroimmunology, cellular immunology, neurovirology, neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, neural cell biology, structural neuroscience and neurochemistry.

The management of adult human neurological diseases has traditionally been limited by the belief that there is very little opportunity for recovery after injury. Now, cellular transplantation therapies and other advanced concepts are widely believed to significantly improve neurological function. Biological strategies, advanced neuroprosthetics, robotics and other products of biomedical engineering have led to a rapidly expanding spectrum of possibilities for additional restorative platforms.

Research is applied to patients through clinical programs at the Keck Medical Center of USC, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center and affiliated medical centers.

Glioma Research Group
The Glioma Research Group is an alliance of USC laboratories dedicated to developing treatments for primary Central Nervous System tumors. By combining and sharing the expertise of specialists in cellular and molecular biology, radiation and surgical treatments of gliomas, the Glioma Research Group is a multidisciplinary unit uniquely suited to pursuing all avenues for treating this devastating disease.

USC Neurorestoration Center
The USC Neurorestoration Center develops novel strategies for the restoration of neurological function. Research is done in collaboration with neural engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the USC Center for Neural Engineering with basic neuroscience research and institutions such as the California Institute of Technology. Learn more »