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

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

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
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

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

2015

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
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

2013

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

2011

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