Our Impact
There is no more powerful mission than truly creating change. The USC community — faculty, students and staff — work side by side with partners in Los Angeles to solve immediate problems, creating a constellation of people and networks collaborating toward the public good. Worldwide, our efforts address global health inequities, develop leadership and research in key cultural areas, train diplomats from myriad countries and more.
Inventing Solutions
Exploring Medical Frontiers
Creating New Knowledge
Discovery, Creativity, Impact
USC is a premier research institution that provides a steady stream of new knowledge, art and technology. It has more than $1 billion in annual research expenditures, with the largest graduate program in science, engineering and health of all private research universities.
Research Highlights
From unexpected climate solutions to unearthing truths about today’s information ecosystem and more, USC researchers roll up their sleeves for the problems of today.
At USC Rossier, scholars from the Critical Policy Collective are turning research into education policy action
The collaborative group of doctoral students and faculty is producing accessible policy research and engaging with policymakers who are shaping the future of K-12 and higher education.
How far will seniors travel to see a doctor? Often much farther than expected
USC researchers find willingness to travel for health care varies by income, mobility and location — insights that could impact the growth of telehealth as well as transportation planning.
How AI and advanced computing are accelerating Alzheimer’s research
Cutting-edge technologies developed by USC researchers are changing not just the pace of Alzheimer’s disease discoveries but also the ways scientists make those discoveries.
Occasional heavy drinking may triple the risk of liver damage
Drinking patterns — not just total drinks — may cause harm even in moderate drinkers, a new USC study suggests.
USC study reveals differences in early Alzheimer’s brain markers across diverse populations
A USC team has identified important differences in how early Alzheimer’s-related brain changes appear across racial and ethnic groups, underscoring the need for more inclusive approaches to studying and diagnosing the disease.
How the USC Institute for Creative Technologies is using synthetic humans to help real humans learn
USC researchers are working to help train soldiers to find solutions in difficult situations.
Creative Expression
Los Angeles is considered the “Creative Capital of the World.” With six major arts schools, USC is one of the city’s driving forces for new ideas and emerging talent, playing a prominent role in the film, television, music, architecture and arts industries.
Faculty Spotlight
USC’s award-winning scholars and researchers look beyond the ordinary to bring new, much-needed insights and developments to a rapidly changing world with complex needs. Within the health and medical fields, this has translated to a wide range of breakthroughs and discoveries that affect every aspect of our daily lives.
Marientina Gotsis is a professor of the practice of cinematic arts at the USC School of Cinematic Arts whose work bridges arts, design and engineering, with a focus on interactive entertainment for health and well-being. She co-founded and directs the Creative Media & Behavioral Health Center, an interdisciplinary research unit connecting USC Cinematic Arts and the Keck School of Medicine to explore how immersive media and games can support mental and physical health.
Vishal Gupta is an associate professor of data sciences and operations at the USC Marshall School of Business, with a courtesy appointment in USC Viterbi’s industrial and systems engineering department. His research sits at the intersection of AI, optimization and operations, applying analytical tools to real-world decision-making in business and engineering contexts.
Cristina Zavaleta is the WiSE Gabilan Assistant Professor and an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at USC. Her research develops nano-based molecular imaging tools to diagnose disease, guide treatment decisions and accelerate drug discovery, advancing precision medicine through technologies that reveal disease biology at the molecular level.
Art & Science Interdisciplinary Collaborations
Bridge Institute & the USC School of Cinematic Arts
In pursuit of a cure for diabetes, faculty and students collaborate to explore the molecular structure of the pancreatic beta cell — the molecule responsible for creating insulin.
Brain & Creativity Institute
The Brain & Creativity Institute studies the effects of music processing on the developing brain, how the brain organizes narratives, and the role of feeling and consciousness in humans and machines. Applications include the diagnosis and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, child development and education.
Wrigley Institute Storymakers Program
Scientists become storytellers through this weeklong intensive workshop that teaches hands-on tools such as podcasting, creative content production and more to empower the people behind the science to move hearts and minds with their work in order to accelerate change.
Arts and Climate Collective (ACC)
Inspired and fueled by students, the ACC is a collective commitment to sustainability and environmental justice using the building blocks of arts, culture and storytelling. Participation develops essential skills and attitudes that prepare students for long-term success and create a shared sense of USC community.