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Check out the latest publication from Chai lab at CCMB! 🧪 #CCMBUSC #Craniosynostosis #Science #ScienceSky
ijosjournal.bsky.social IJOS_Editorial Office @ijosjournal.bsky.social · Aug 18
Why do #coronal sutures sometimes fuse too early? In mice, excessive FGFR2–P38 signaling increased #retinoic acid and premature bone formation. Restoring retinoic acid signaling kept the suture open and improved #neurocognitive outcomes.👇
@ijosjournal.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 18, 2026 at 4:15 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
New publication on enamel formation from the Oldak lab in the Journal of Oral Science! 🧪🦷 #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #Science #ScienceSky
ijosjournal.bsky.social IJOS_Editorial Office @ijosjournal.bsky.social · Aug 25
Normal #enamel thickness does not guarantee normal enamel quality. In mice, disrupting a cell-binding motif in ameloblastin impaired ameloblast polarity and prism organization. Homozygous mutants also had hypomineralized enamel—revealing how cell–matrix contact shapes enamel architecture.👇
August 25, 2026 at 5:17 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
ETS1 Orchestrates a Hybrid EMT Program Driving Metastasis and Immune Evasion 🧪 #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #CancerResearch
aacrjournals.org/cancerres/ar...
ETS1 Orchestrates a Hybrid EMT Program Driving Metastasis and Immune Evasion
Abstract. Transcriptional intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) is a hallmark of aggressive cancers. Investigation into the ITH programs that drive tumor metastasis and immune evasion could help identify p...
aacrjournals.org
May 26, 2026 at 10:47 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
CCMB would like to congratulate Dr. Dechen Lin on his promotion to Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC! #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #Promotion #CancerResearch
A portrait of a person smiling with text congratulating them on a promotion
April 20, 2026 at 11:39 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
Dr. Amy Merrill’s lab establishes a new mouse model to better understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying anterior displacement of the articular disc in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in their latest publication in JBMR Plus. 🧪 #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #TMDs
academic.oup.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:01 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
Congratulations to the Paine lab on their latest publication in Frontiers in Physiology, which introduces a novel Ambn-IRESCre mouse line for studying gene functions during amelogenesis with greater specificity than previous models. 🧪 #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #Amelogenesis #Science #ScienceSky
Frontiers | A novel Ambn-IRESCre mouse line allows ameloblast-specific Smad4 silencing
IntroductionFor more than two decades, enamel researchers have primarily used the keratin-14-Cre (Krt14-Cre) driver line to study ameloblast-specific molecul...
www.frontiersin.org
June 3, 2026 at 5:33 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
The Xu lab at USC's CCMB explores the effects of dioxins on dental and craniofacial development in their latest review article published in @frontiersin.bsky.social Cell and Developmental Biology! 🧪 #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #ScienceSky #Science #Biology
www.frontiersin.org/journals/cel...
Frontiers | Craniofacial and dental toxicity of dioxins: developmental phenotypes and mechanistic insights
BackgroundDioxins are persistent environmental pollutants with high lipophilicity and long half-lives, enabling their accumulation in biological tissues and ...
www.frontiersin.org
August 21, 2026 at 6:23 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
Congratulations to Chai lab on their paper in @natcomms.nature.com, which notes early indicators of oropharyngeal dysfunction and uncovers the essential role of trigeminal nerve-derived GDF11 signaling in regulating soft palate muscle development. 🧪 #CCMBUSC #ScienceSky #Science #Morphogenesis
Sensory nerve-derived signaling coordinates oropharyngeal structural organization that supports suckling and vocalization in neonatal mice - Nature Communications
Here, authors show sensory nerve-derived GDF11 coordinates soft palate muscle development and neonatal oropharyngeal function through perimysial signaling.
www.nature.com
July 16, 2026 at 6:05 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
Jianfu Chen's lab uses spatial transcriptomics to map the diverse cell types in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and uncover a microenvironment involved in arthritic pain in their latest publication in Advanced Science. 🧪 #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #FightOn #Science #TMJ
Spatial Transcriptomics of TMJ Reveals a Remodeling Fibroblast‐Immune Microenvironment Driving Arthritis Pain
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advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:13 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
Check out our latest publication on lymphatic vessel identification by Jeff Chen's lab! 🧪 #CCMBUSC #Science #Lymphatics #USCResearch
jem.org Journal of Experimental Medicine @jem.org · Sep 26
Identification of lymphatic vessels in skull periosteum but not bone marrow reveals skull channel heterogeneity. New report from Qing Chang, Jian-Fu Chen and colleagues @usc.edu: rupress.org/jem/article/...

#HumanDiseaseGenetics
September 29, 2025 at 6:33 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
Congratulations to the Chai lab on their latest publication in @brjournal.bsky.social, which identifies KDM6B as an epigenetic regulator that maintains mineralized tissue homeostasis under mechanical stress. 🧪 #CCMBUSC #Science #ScienceSky #Mechanotransduction
KDM6B safeguards mineralized tissue homeostasis from mechanical stress through epigenetic control of PIEZO1-mediated mechanotransduction in the mouse incisor
Bone Research - KDM6B safeguards mineralized tissue homeostasis from mechanical stress through epigenetic control of PIEZO1-mediated mechanotransduction in the mouse incisor
rdcu.be
June 4, 2026 at 4:45 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
Congratulations to the Chai lab on another great publication in @pnas.org! The study uses tooth root development as a model to investigate how cranial neural crest-derived mesenchyme and its interactions with innervation coordinate organ development. 🧪 #CCMBUSC #Innervation #Science #ScienceSky
Epigenetic regulation of mesenchymal BMP signaling directs postnatal organ innervation | PNAS
Sensory innervation of developing organs is influenced by molecular cues secreted from surrounding tissues, yet the mechanisms coordinating this ti...
www.pnas.org
July 2, 2026 at 6:13 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
Congratulations to CCMB’s Dr. Dechen Lin on his new NIH-funded R01, which will allow him to use human organoids to understand how KMT2C mutations affect the immune system’s response to therapeutic treatments in head & neck cancers. #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #CancerResearch #Science #ScienceSky
Ostrow Earns New NIH grant to Study Head and Neck Cancers Using Human Organoids - Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
The R01 grant is the third such NIH award earned by Ostrow researcher and faculty member Dechen Lin, an accomplishment made all the more impressive given the extremely competitive funding environment....
dentistry.usc.edu
September 4, 2026 at 6:00 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
In their latest @natcomms.nature.com publication, Dr. Jian-Fu Chen’s lab identifies synovial lymphatics and defines their role in temporomandibular joint ostreoarthritis (TMJOA) pain. rdcu.be/ffTR8 🧪 #CCMBUSC #TMDs #TMJ
Identification of synovial lymphatic system in the temporomandibular joint and their roles in arthritis and pain
Nature Communications - Here, the authors show that the temporomandibular joint contains a previously unrecognized synovial lymphatic network. Disrupted lymphatics in inflammatory arthritis amplify...
rdcu.be
April 28, 2026 at 6:38 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
We're excited to share our latest publication from Chai lab in
@natcomms.nature.com titled "High-resolution spatial transcriptomics and cell lineage analysis reveal spatiotemporal cell fate determination during craniofacial development." rdcu.be/elKQ0 #CCMBUSC #CraniofacialResearch #seqFISH
High-resolution spatial transcriptomics and cell lineage analysis reveal spatiotemporal cell fate determination during craniofacial development
Nature Communications - Neural crest cells differentiate into distinct fates during craniofacial morphogenesis, though how these are acquired remains unclear. Here they show that mesenchymal...
rdcu.be
May 13, 2025 at 12:46 AM
ccmb.usc.edu
Congratulations to the Chai lab on their latest publication in @natcomms.nature.com, which highlights the importance of dural cell migration in maintaining coronal suture patency. 🧪 #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #Craniosynostosis #TGFB
TGFβ-mediated dural progenitor cell migration into the coronal suture is crucial for preventing craniosynostosis - Nature Communications
Here they show that TGFβ signaling drives dural cell migration into the coronal suture to maintain its patency. Disruption of this process impairs coronal suture stem cell homeostasis and leads to cra...
www.nature.com
May 27, 2026 at 6:04 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
Congratulations to Rucha Bapat and Gayathri Visakan! In addition to being invited to present their research on ameloblastin and enamel formation, they were also awarded Young Investigator Travel Awards at #Enamel11, a conference held in France earlier this month. #CCMBUSC #CraniofacialResearch
Rucha Bapat, Janet Moradian-Oldak, and Gayathri Visakan of the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology of USC at Enamel 11, an international conference held in France earlier this month. Not only did Rucha and Gayathri both present their research on ameloblastin and enamel formation, they also both received Young Investigator Travel Awards.
October 29, 2025 at 11:47 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Yang Chai on his appointment as Dean of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, moving from Interim Dean to Dean! Fight on! #CCMBUSC #DentalSchool #USCDentistry #USCResearch #FightOn
Newly appointed Dean Yang Chai of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
July 4, 2025 at 12:37 AM
ccmb.usc.edu
We're looking for some new researchers for our team, including postdocs and lab techs! Please check out the link below for more information on our current available positions. #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #Science #ScienceSky #JobsInResearch #ScienceJobs

ccmb.usc.edu/employment-o...
The Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology of the University of Southern California logo with "We are hiring" and "Assistant Professor" over three researchers talking in the background
June 5, 2026 at 6:33 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
Join us for another exciting Ostrow Research Day, where students, postdocs, and faculty members from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry will showcase their groundbreaking research! This year, Ostrow Research Day returns to the USC Galen Center on April 9th. #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #Science
A flyer for Ostrow Research Day hosted by the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC on April 9 at the USC Galen Center
April 4, 2025 at 12:35 AM
ccmb.usc.edu
Last Thursday, Dr. Janet Moradian-Oldak was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Dental Honor Society (Zeta Chapter) in recognition of her outstanding contributions and service to the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. #CCMBUSC #DentalResearch #OKU #Dentistry
Dr. Janet Moradian-Oldak, pictured here with Dean Yang Chai of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, being awarded honorary membership into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Dental Honor Society
May 14, 2025 at 5:14 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
It's almost time for the 18th annual Ostrow Research Day on April 8th in the USC Hotel Ballroom. Please don't forget to register! #CCMBUSC #USCResearch #ResearchDay
dentistry.usc.edu/research-day...
March 12, 2026 at 8:37 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
🧠 Congratulations to Peng Chen on receiving his plaque for winning 1st place (Post-Doc) in the AADOCR Hatton Competition! His talk, “Suture-Dura Interaction Supports Coronal Suture Regeneration in Craniosynostosis,” earned top honors earlier this year. #CCMBUSC #Craniosynostosis #AADOCR #Research
Peng Chen of the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB) of the University of Southern California's Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry with his plaque for winning first place in the post-doctoral category of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) Hatton Competition for his oral presentation on craniosynostosis and coronal suture regeneration
October 10, 2025 at 6:37 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
In the latest paper from Chai lab we reveal the importance of Piezo2+ mechanosensory neurons in postnatal development. Check it out in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) @pnas.org. doi.org/10.1073/pnas...

🧪 #CCMBUSC #Science #USCResearch #CraniofacialBiology
Piezo2+ mechanosensory neurons orchestrate postnatal development through mechano-chemo-transduction of PDGFA signaling | PNAS
Mechanical forces are ubiquitous and essential during vertebrate development, yet how these forces are translated into biochemical signals and regu...
doi.org
July 14, 2025 at 6:03 PM
ccmb.usc.edu
We're hiring! For more information, visit ccmb.usc.edu/employment-o.... #CCMBUSC #ScienceJobs #CareersinScience #LabLife #MolecularBiology
We're hiring research lab technicians and postdoctoral scholars
May 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM