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
Development of Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Investigators: Yong Zhang, Evanthia Torres
Innovative Ultrasound-Guided CAR-Macrophages for Safe and Effective Cancer Immunotherapy
Investigators: Qilong Ying, Peter YingXiao Wang, Chao Zhang
Controllable CAR T Cell Therapy by Focused Ultrasound for Pediatric Glioblastoma
Investigators: Yingxiao Wang, Sarah Richman, Longwei Liu
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
INTERCEPT: Data Science-Driven Liquid Biopsy in Early Breast Cancer Detection
Investigators: Jorge Nieva, Assad Oberai, Peter Kuhn, Jeremy Mason
Development of genome-guided immunotherapeutic strategies for head neck cancer
Investigators: Dechen Lin, Uttam Sinha, Jacob Thomas, Cristina Zavaleta
2022
Oncology Decision Support in Ovarian Cancer: Artificial Intelligence Based Pathomics to Identify Platinum Resistant Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Investigators: Yan Liu, Joseph Carlson
An Ultrasound Activated Ultrasound Contrast Agent for Urinary Imaging
Investigators: Travis Williams, Andy Chang, Jesse Yen
Improving Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer Using Computational Modeling
Investigators: Stacey Finley, Evanthia Roussos Torres
Liquid Biopsy Predicts Metastatic Relapse in Primary Bladder Cancer Patients
Investigators: Peter Kuhn, Hooman Djaladat, Jeremy Mason
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
Therapeutic Application of Urinary Extracellular Vesicles for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Investigators: Eun Ji Chung, Kenneth Hallows
2021
A next-generation MR-Linac imaging strategy for abdominal MR-guided radiotherapy
Investigators: Zhaoyang Fan; Krishna Nayak
Developing novel immunotherapy for colorectal cancer
Investigators: Yong Zhang; Heinz-Josef Lenz; Alan Epstein
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
Image enhancement for low-field MRI
Investigators: Justin Haldar; Jay Acharya
Molecular imaging of lymph node metastases in prostate cancer using targeted nanoparticles
Investigators: Eun Ji Chung; Mitchell Gross; Russell Jacobs; Alex Wong
Developing novel chimeric antigen receptor T cells for treating post-transplant relapse of acute leukemia
Investigators: Jianming Xie; Alan Wayne; Yong-Mi Kim
2020
Developing High Affinity Peptides to Target SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) Protein
Investigators: Richard Roberts; Terry Takahashi
First Small Molecular for Retinal Degenerations
Investigators: Stan Louie; Mark Humayun
Engineering natural killer cells to target HLA-DR-negative hematologic malignancies
Investigators: Jianming Xie; Alan Wayne
Targeting CD99 and FLT3 to eliminate leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Investigators: Houda Alachkar; Andrew Mackay; George Yaghmour
Novel Dynamic PET Kinetics and MRI Radiomics Analyses in Brain Tumors
Investigators: Hossein Jadvar; Andrew MacKay; Krishna Nayak;
DSCR1, anti-angiogenesis drug target against solid tumors with focus on colorectal cancer
Investigators: Heinz-Josef Lenz; Fariborz Nasertorabi
2019
Determining Predictors of Response to Oncolytic Virus Immune Priming
Investigators: Kevin Kelly; Peter Kuhn; Wendy Cozen
Establishing a Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Through a Fluid Biopsy
Investigators: Peter Kuhn; Jorge Nieva
The Development of huLym-1DAPCAR-T Cells for B-cell Lymphoma Therapy
Investigators: Alan Epstein; Stan Louie
The Geochemistry of Cancer: A New Collaborative Approach for Research and Diagnosis
Investigators: Seth John; Peter Kuhn; Jorge Nieva; Josh West; Will Berelson
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
First Small Molecule Therapy for Retinal Degenerations
Investigators: Mark Humayun; Stan Louie
2018
Immunomodulatory and Cytotoxic Micelles for Prostate Cancer
Investigators: Eun Ji Chung; Mitchell Gross; Kian Kani; Keyue Shen
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
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
Next Generation CD19 CAR-T for the treatment of lymphoid malignancies
Investigators: Preet Chaudhary; Jianming Xie
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
Machine Learning Applications to the Immunology of Melanoma
Investigators: Stephen Gruber; Fei Sha
Developing Novel Immuno-nanoparticles for Colorectal Cancer
Investigators: Yong Zhang; Heinz-Josef Lenz
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:…
Innovation:…
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…
Innovation: developing non-cytotoxic small molecules that cause…
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…
Innovation: develop…
2016
Developing new Diagnostics and Therapeutics for an Immune Checkpoint
Investigators: Richard Roberts; Mitchell Gross; Terry Takahashi
Optimizing PEOX Formulated C125 for TNBCs
Investigators: Stan Louie; Kathleen Rodgers; Nicos Petasis; Louis Dubeau
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.<br…
2015
Development of a nano-encapsulated biomimetic small molecule therapeutic for the treatment of colon cancer
Investigators: Nicos Petasis; Stan Louie; Heinz-Josef Lenz
Nanoparticle Formulations of Mas Agonists for Adjuvant to Cancer Chemotherapy
Investigators: Kathleen Rodgers; Stan Louie; Gere diZerega
Engineering Exosome Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Therapies
Investigators: Yong Zhang; Parkash Gill
Multifunctional Gold Nanostars for CD13-Targeted Tumor Imaging and Photothermal Therapy
Investigators: Kai Chen; Peter Conti; Kirk Shung
Nanoscale parenteral formulations of a small molecule therapeutic for the treatment of resistant breast cancer
Investigators: Stan Louie; Nicos Petasis; Kathleen Rodgers
2014
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.<br…
Metal Oxide Nanoribbon Biosensor Chips for Point of Care Diagnosis
Investigators: Mark Thompson; Chongwu Zhou
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…
Innovation: delivering a novel nanoparticle/TAK1 inhibitor to…
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…
Innovation: a method to recognize the minute differences in…
Nanoparticle-enhanced ultrasound therapy
Investigators: Andrea Armani, Ph.D.; Charles Gomer, Ph.D.; David Agus, M.D.; Qifa Zhou, Ph.D.
Innovation: combining…
Innovation: combining…
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.<br…
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…
Innovation: develop high-affinity peptides for targeted diagnosis and a pipeline…
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…
Innovation: developing a timepoint-independent pharmacokinetic modeling…
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…
Innovation: combining drugs that…
2012
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…
Innovation: a method to recognize the minute differences in…
Multiplexed Polysilicon Nanoribbon Sensors for Therapeutic Monitoring and Detection of Brain Cancer
Investigators: Chongwu Zhou; Mark Thompson; Thomas Chen
Scintillating Nanoparticles for Radiosensitization of Cancer Cells
Investigators: Stephen Bradforth; Colin Hill; Jay Nadeau; Jonathon Ha; Eric Chang
Targeted Nanoparticle Therapy for Ewing’s Sarcoma
Investigators: Timothy Triche; Richard Roberts
Targeting the Mildly Acidic Tumor Microenvironment using pH-sensitive Recombinant Peptide Nanoconstructs
Investigators: Jennica Zaro; Peter Conti
2011
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…
Innovation: developing a timepoint-independent pharmacokinetic modeling…
Telomerase Reprogramming Nanoparticles (TeRN): Design and Validation of a Universal Cancer Therapeutic
Investigators: Amir Goldkorn; Nicos Petasis
An Ultrasound-Activated Nanoparticle Vehicle for Selective Imaging and Drug Delivery
Investigators: Travis Williams; Andy Chang
Engineering Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cancer Therapeutics
Investigators: Pin Wang; Michael Wong