Research

The Ming Hsieh Institute aims to make USC an international leader in translational cancer and other areas with large affected populations by bridging basic science, engineered devices, synthesized molecules and materials, and medicine. The Ming Hsieh Institute supports many multi-disciplinary research teams developing new treatments or diagnostics.

2023

July 18, 2023

Controllable CAR T Cell Therapy by Focused Ultrasound for Pediatric Glioblastoma

Investigators: Yingxiao Wang, Sarah Richman, Longwei Liu
July 18, 2023

Development of genome-guided immunotherapeutic strategies for head neck cancer

Investigators: Dechen Lin, Uttam Sinha, Jacob Thomas, Cristina Zavaleta
July 18, 2023

Development of Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Investigators: Yong Zhang, Evanthia Torres
July 18, 2023

Innovative Ultrasound-Guided CAR-Macrophages for Safe and Effective Cancer Immunotherapy

Investigators: Qilong Ying, Peter YingXiao Wang, Chao Zhang
July 18, 2023

INTERCEPT: Data Science-Driven Liquid Biopsy in Early Breast Cancer Detection

Investigators: Jorge Nieva, Assad Oberai, Peter Kuhn, Jeremy Mason
July 18, 2023

Pharmacological targeting of pyrimidine pathway to modulate response to checkpoint inhibition in metastatic colorectal cancer

Investigators: Heinz-Josef Lenz, Evanthia Roussos Torres, Yong Zhang
July 18, 2023

Targeting circadian clock proteins for novel therapeutics to treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Investigators: Steve Kay, Vsevolod Katritch, Yong-Mi Kim, Deepa Bhojwani
July 18, 2023

Therapeutic Targeting of Hdm2/HdmX E3 Ligase in CRC

Investigators: Julio A. Camarero, Hienz-Joseph Lenz
July 18, 2023

Window pre-operative study of taxane chemotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Investigators: Jacob Thomas, Uttam Sinha, Dechen Lin

2022

February 3, 2023

An Ultrasound Activated Ultrasound Contrast Agent for Urinary Imaging

Investigators: Travis Williams, Andy Chang, Jesse Yen
February 3, 2023

Improving Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer Using Computational Modeling

Investigators: Stacey Finley, Evanthia Roussos Torres
February 3, 2023

Liquid Biopsy Predicts Metastatic Relapse in Primary Bladder Cancer Patients

Investigators: Peter Kuhn, Hooman Djaladat, Jeremy Mason
February 3, 2023

Low-Cost “Smart” mHealth System for Predicting Future Likelihood of Vaso-Occlusive Pain Crisis: Moving Towards Personalized Medicine in Sickle Cell Disease

Investigators: Michael Khoo, Thomas Coates, Saranya Veluswamy
February 3, 2023

Oncology Decision Support in Ovarian Cancer: Artificial Intelligence Based Pathomics to Identify Platinum Resistant Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Investigators: Yan Liu, Joseph Carlson
February 3, 2023

Therapeutic Application of Urinary Extracellular Vesicles for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Investigators: Eun Ji Chung, Kenneth Hallows

2021

June 30, 2021

A next-generation MR-Linac imaging strategy for abdominal MR-guided radiotherapy

Investigators: Zhaoyang Fan; Krishna Nayak
June 29, 2021

Developing anti-SEMA4D antibody drug conjugate to prevent breast cancer to brain metastasis

Investigators: Min Yu; Yong Zhang; Irene Kang
June 29, 2021

Developing novel chimeric antigen receptor T cells for treating post-transplant relapse of acute leukemia

Investigators: Jianming Xie; Alan Wayne; Yong-Mi Kim
June 29, 2021

Developing novel immunotherapy for colorectal cancer

Investigators: Yong Zhang; Heinz-Josef Lenz; Alan Epstein
June 29, 2021

Development of a novel multimodal molecular imaging approach to guide intra operative tumor resection and post-operative treatment planning

Investigators: Cristina Zavaleta; Manju Aron; Uttam Sinha; Scott Fraser
June 29, 2021

Image enhancement for low-field MRI

Investigators: Justin Haldar; Jay Acharya
June 29, 2021

Minimally Invasive, Bioengineered Neuro-Modulation for Neuroprotection and Neuro-regeneration

Investigators: Kimberly Gokoffski; Gianluca Lazzi
June 29, 2021

Molecular imaging of lymph node metastases in prostate cancer using targeted nanoparticles

Investigators: Eun Ji Chung; Mitchell Gross; Russell Jacobs; Alex Wong

2020

August 28, 2020

Developing High Affinity Peptides to Target SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) Protein

Investigators: Richard Roberts; Terry Takahashi
August 6, 2020

DSCR1, anti-angiogenesis drug target against solid tumors with focus on colorectal cancer

Investigators: Heinz-Josef Lenz; Fariborz Nasertorabi
August 6, 2020

Engineering natural killer cells to target HLA-DR-negative hematologic malignancies

Investigators: Jianming Xie; Alan Wayne
August 6, 2020

First Small Molecular for Retinal Degenerations

Investigators: Stan Louie; Mark Humayun
August 4, 2020

Novel Deep Learning Techniques for Imputing Medical Images: Application in Clinical Management of Renal Masses

Investigators: Assad Oberai; Vinay Duddalwar; Inderbir Gill
August 6, 2020

Novel Dynamic PET Kinetics and MRI Radiomics Analyses in Brain Tumors

Investigators: Hossein Jadvar; Andrew MacKay; Krishna Nayak;
August 6, 2020

Targeting CD99 and FLT3 to eliminate leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Investigators: Houda Alachkar; Andrew Mackay; George Yaghmour

2019

July 11, 2019

Determining Predictors of Response to Oncolytic Virus Immune Priming

Investigators: Kevin Kelly; Peter Kuhn; Wendy Cozen
July 11, 2019

Establishing a Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Through a Fluid Biopsy

Investigators: Peter Kuhn; Jorge Nieva
July 11, 2019

First Small Molecule Therapy for Retinal Degenerations

Investigators: Mark Humayun; Stan Louie
July 11, 2019

In Vivo Validation of a Smart Hydrocephalus Shunt

Investigators: Ellis Meng; Gordon McComb
July 11, 2019

Next Generation CD19 CAR-T for the treatment of lymphoid malignancies

Investigators: Preet Chaudhary; Jianming Xie
July 11, 2019

Pilot feasibility study to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of FID-007 at two dose levels in patients with solid tumors

Investigators: Anthony El-Khoueiry; Jacob Thomas; Stan Louie; Alan Epstein
July 11, 2019

The Development of huLym-1DAPCAR-T Cells for B-cell Lymphoma Therapy

Investigators: Alan Epstein; Stan Louie
July 11, 2019

The Geochemistry of Cancer: A New Collaborative Approach for Research and Diagnosis

Investigators: Seth John; Peter Kuhn; Jorge Nieva; Josh West; Will Berelson

2018

July 11, 2018

Characterizing the immune microenvironment of lymphoma and myeloma using multiplexed imaging mass cytometry

Investigators: Akil Merchant; Kevin Kelly; Wendy Cozen; James Hicks; Peter Kuhn; Imran Siddiqi
July 11, 2018

Chimeric Antigen Receptor Engineered Natural Killer Cells as a Carrier of Drug-Encapsulated Nanoparticles Targeting Adenosine Receptors in Ovarian Cancer

Investigators: Pin Wang; James Hu
July 11, 2018

Immunomodulatory and Cytotoxic Micelles for Prostate Cancer

Investigators: Eun Ji Chung; Mitchell Gross; Kian Kani; Keyue Shen
July 11, 2018

Next Generation CD19 CAR-T for the treatment of lymphoid malignancies

Investigators: Preet Chaudhary; Jianming Xie

2017

July 11, 2017

Developing Novel Immuno-nanoparticles for Colorectal Cancer

Investigators: Yong Zhang; Heinz-Josef Lenz
June 5, 2017

Development of a Nano-Encapsulated Small Molecule Immunotherapeutic for Colon Cancer

Investigators: Nicos Petasis Ph.D.; Stan Louie Ph.D.; Heinz-Josef Lenz M.D.
Innovation: developing non-cytotoxic small molecules that cause tumor death through suppression of inflammation
Clinical significance: provides a new treatment for colon cancer and other inflammation-related cancers
June 5, 2017

Imaging Mass Cytometry to Profile Tumor Immune Microenvironment

Investigators: Akil Merchant M.D.; Parkash Gill M.D.; Peter Kuhn Ph.D.; Imran Siddiqi MD Ph.D.
Innovation: developing an imaging technique to study immune cells and understand their connection to tumors
Clinical significance: gain insights into immune response for patients being treated with immuno-oncology agents
July 21, 2017

Integrating Spatiotemporal Single Cell Proteogenomics Data from Liquid Biopsies in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Investigators: Yan Liu; Peter Kuhn; James Hicks; Jorge Nieva
June 5, 2017

Large-scale Isolation of Cytotoxic Extracellular Vesicles from Activated Natural Killer Cells for Immunotherapy of Cancer

Investigators: Noah Malmstadt Ph.D.; Robert Seeger M.D. M.S.; Muller Fabbri M.D. Ph.D.; Ambrose Jong Ph. D.; Alan Wayne M.D.
Innovation: develop a new, automated, large-scale device for purifying NK EVs and characterize their ability to kill human ALL and NB cell lines in vitro and cell lines and patient derived xenografts
Clinical significance: new approach to the treatment of cancer that may be effective against a wide array of malignancies in children and adults
July 21, 2017

Machine Learning Applications to the Immunology of Melanoma

Investigators: Stephen Gruber; Fei Sha

2016

March 2, 2016

Bispecific hybrid nanoworms for immunotherapy of B-cell lymphoma

Investigators: J. Andrew MacKay, Ph.D. Peter Conti, M.D., Ph.D., Alan Epstein, M.D., Ph.D. Zibo Li, Ph.D.
Innovation: Nanoworm-delivered therapeutics that can bind to more than one target
Clinical significance: New immunotherapies tailored to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients
July 21, 2016

Developing new Diagnostics and Therapeutics for an Immune Checkpoint

Investigators: Richard Roberts; Mitchell Gross; Terry Takahashi
July 21, 2016

Optimizing PEOX Formulated C125 for TNBCs

Investigators: Stan Louie; Kathleen Rodgers; Nicos Petasis; Louis Dubeau

2015

July 22, 2015

Development of a nano-encapsulated biomimetic small molecule therapeutic for the treatment of colon cancer

Investigators: Nicos Petasis; Stan Louie; Heinz-Josef Lenz
July 22, 2015

Engineering Exosome Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Therapies

Investigators: Yong Zhang; Parkash Gill
July 22, 2015

Multifunctional Gold Nanostars for CD13-Targeted Tumor Imaging and Photothermal Therapy

Investigators: Kai Chen; Peter Conti; Kirk Shung
July 22, 2015

Nanoparticle Formulations of Mas Agonists for Adjuvant to Cancer Chemotherapy

Investigators: Kathleen Rodgers; Stan Louie; Gere diZerega
July 21, 2015

Nanoscale parenteral formulations of a small molecule therapeutic for the treatment of resistant breast cancer

Investigators: Stan Louie; Nicos Petasis; Kathleen Rodgers

2014

March 2, 2016

Bispecific hybrid nanoworms for immunotherapy of B-cell lymphoma

Investigators: J. Andrew MacKay, Ph.D. Peter Conti, M.D., Ph.D., Alan Epstein, M.D., Ph.D. Zibo Li, Ph.D.
Innovation: Nanoworm-delivered therapeutics that can bind to more than one target
Clinical significance: New immunotherapies tailored to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients
March 1, 2014

Focused microwave cancer therapy using lithographically defined nanoparticles

Investigators: Wei Wu, Ph.D.; Mahta Moghaddam, Ph.D.; John Stang, Ph.D.; Eugene Chung, M.D., Ph.D., J.D.
Innovation: a new class of custom-engineered nanoparticles that enhance absorption at microwave frequencies
Clinical significance: noninvasive, less painful therapy, especially beneficial for patients unable to undergo surgery
July 22, 2014

Metal Oxide Nanoribbon Biosensor Chips for Point of Care Diagnosis

Investigators: Mark Thompson; Chongwu Zhou
March 1, 2014

Nanoparticle-enhanced ultrasound therapy

Investigators: Andrea Armani, Ph.D.; Charles Gomer, Ph.D.; David Agus, M.D.; Qifa Zhou, Ph.D.
Innovation: combining nanotechnology with ultrasound waves
Clinical significance: increasing the penetration depth of nanoparticle- enhanced therapy to reach previously inaccessible tumors
March 2, 2014

Nanoparticle-mediated delivery targeting TAK1 as a metastatic breast cancer therapy

Investigators:Min Yu, M.D., Ph.D. Pin Wang, Ph.D., Julie Lang, M.D.
Innovation: delivering a novel nanoparticle/TAK1 inhibitor to halt metastasis
Clinical significance: a new treatment for metastatic breast cancer
March 2, 2014

Optimization of pH-sensitive peptide nanoconstructs for use in targeting the mildly acidic tumor microenvironment

Investigators: Jennica Zaro, Ph.D. Peter Conti, M.D., Ph.D.
Innovation: a method to recognize the minute differences in pH levels near tumor cells
Clinical significance: enabling more powerful cancer-killing drugs to be used without side effects

2013

March 1, 2013

Developing SUPR peptide diagnostics and therapeutics for oral cavity carcinomas

Investigators: Richard Roberts, Ph.D.; Uttam Sinha, M.D.
Innovation: develop high-affinity peptides for targeted diagnosis and a pipeline for generating other reagents
Clinical significance: a robust, simple diagnostic test for early detection of head and neck cancers
March 1, 2013

Diagnostic imaging of smart genetically engineered nanomedicines

Investigators: J. Andrew MacKay, Ph.D.; Peter Conti, M.D., Ph.D.
Innovation: developing a timepoint-independent pharmacokinetic modeling strategy
Clinical significance: improving personalized medicine by more accurately measuring the effects of a particular treatment on an individual patient
February 27, 2013

Therapeutic nanoplatform targeted to bone metastatic cancers

Investigators: Fabien Pinaud, Ph.D.; Mitchell Gross, M.D., Ph.D.; Charles McKenna, Ph.D.
Innovation: combining drugs that prevent bone loss with gold nanoparticles to treat metastatic bone cancer
Clinical significance: enhancing the chance of survival for patients with few current options

2012

July 22, 2012

Targeting the Mildly Acidic Tumor Microenvironment using pH-sensitive Recombinant Peptide Nanoconstructs

Investigators: Jennica Zaro; Peter Conti
July 22, 2012

Targeted Nanoparticle Therapy for Ewing’s Sarcoma

Investigators: Timothy Triche; Richard Roberts
July 22, 2012

Scintillating Nanoparticles for Radiosensitization of Cancer Cells

Investigators: Stephen Bradforth; Colin Hill; Jay Nadeau; Jonathon Ha; Eric Chang
March 2, 2014

Optimization of pH-sensitive peptide nanoconstructs for use in targeting the mildly acidic tumor microenvironment

Investigators: Jennica Zaro, Ph.D. Peter Conti, M.D., Ph.D.
Innovation: a method to recognize the minute differences in pH levels near tumor cells
Clinical significance: enabling more powerful cancer-killing drugs to be used without side effects
July 22, 2012

Multiplexed Polysilicon Nanoribbon Sensors for Therapeutic Monitoring and Detection of Brain Cancer

Investigators: Chongwu Zhou; Mark Thompson; Thomas Chen

2011

July 22, 2011

Telomerase Reprogramming Nanoparticles (TeRN): Design and Validation of a Universal Cancer Therapeutic

Investigators: Amir Goldkorn; Nicos Petasis
July 22, 2011

Engineering Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cancer Therapeutics

Investigators: Pin Wang; Michael Wong
March 1, 2013

Diagnostic imaging of smart genetically engineered nanomedicines

Investigators: J. Andrew MacKay, Ph.D.; Peter Conti, M.D., Ph.D.
Innovation: developing a timepoint-independent pharmacokinetic modeling strategy
Clinical significance: improving personalized medicine by more accurately measuring the effects of a particular treatment on an individual patient
July 22, 2011

An Ultrasound-Activated Nanoparticle Vehicle for Selective Imaging and Drug Delivery

Investigators: Travis Williams; Andy Chang