Special issue of Cells on Oral Disease: Cellular Mechanisms and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies with guest editors Rucha Arun Bapat and Marziyeh Aghazadeh information in white on a blue background

🦷 Call for submissions for a special issue of Cells with guest editors Dr. Rucha Arun Bapat and Dr. Marziyeh Aghazadeh!

Oral Disease: Cellular Mechanisms and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies

For more information: brnw.ch/21x0oZJ

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...

Spatial transcriptomics of the mouse temporomandibular joint (TMJ) using seqFISH, from the dataset "Spatial Transcriptomics of Mouse CFA-induced TMJ arthritis" https://doi.org/10.25550/8Q-3KAR

New data: Spatial transcriptomics (using seqFISH) reveals a fibroblast-immune microenvironment remodeling pathway in CFA-induced TMJ arthritis in mice. PI: Jian-Fu Chen (University of Southern California)

doi.org/10.25550/8Q-...

Ahead of the upcoming #Lymphatics GRC meeting, for #JEM_Spotlight this month I would like to highlight this 2025 study from Jian-Fu Chen @ccmb.usc.edu where his lab identifies lymphatic vessels in the skull periosteum 🧠 Take a look here: doi.org/10.1084/jem....

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

New in JBMR® Plus: A reproducible mouse model of TMJ anterior disc displacement — offering a powerful platform to study TMD mechanisms + potential therapeutic targets.

Read the open‑access article: doi.org/10.1093/jbmr...

Flyer for the FaceBase 2026 Community Forum Arlington, VA on May 4 & 5, 2026 Advances in data reuse, integration, and AI-ready biomedical research in dental, oral, craniofacial, inner ear and related research.

Registration and Call for Abstracts are open for the FaceBase 2026 Community Forum!

Advances in data reuse, integration, and AI-ready biomedical research in dental, oral, craniofacial, inner ear and related research.

📅 May 4-5, 2026
📍 Arlington, VA (also via Zoom)

Register: bit.ly/FBForum2026

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

Picture of Dr. Jianfu "Jeff" Chen with his arms crossed. Congratulations on his promotion to the rank of Professor at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California.

CCMB would like to congratulate Dr. Jianfu “Jeff” Chen on his promotion to Professor at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC!

Save the Dates for the 2026 FaceBase Community Forum in Arlington, VA on: May 4 & 5 2026! For updates, go to:https://bit.ly/FBForum2026

Save the dates for the next FaceBase Community Forum: May 4 & 5 2026 in Arlington, VA. More details coming soon!

www.facebase.org/community/an...

Screenshot of the FaceBase Virtual Bootcamp - Fall 2025: Rob Schuler is presenting a slide about how FaceBase data is ready for Reuse, Reproducibility and (Re)analysis.

Missed the FaceBase Bootcamp? No worries!
Catch up with recordings and slides covering data discovery, submissions, and DMS plans:
🎥 www.facebase.org/community/tr...

#FaceBase #DataSharing #CraniofacialResearch #NIH #DentalResearch #DataReuse #FAIRdata #DataScience

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.

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

OR DENTAL, ORAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCHERS, CLINICIANS AND STUDENTS FACEBASE BOOTCAMP (FOR USERS AND CONTRIBUTORS) LEARN HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE FACEBASE RESOURCE AND BEST PRACTICES FOR MANAGING AND SHARING DATA Wed, November 5 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Eastern/ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Pacific Online Event Learn more and register at: facebase.org/community/training/

📣 Our next virtual bootcamp, tailored for both users and data contributors, is coming up next week: Wednesday, November 5th! Whether you're a seasoned user of FaceBase or looking to contribute data for the first time, this event is for you!

www.facebase.org/community/tr...

Yang Chai installed as dean of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC The clinician-scientist is also the school’s associate dean of research and served as interim dean.

This week we officially welcomed Dr. Yang Chai as dean of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry—renowned scientist, visionary leader, and Trojan through and through.

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

🧠 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

Unmasking cancer’s hidden nerve route with patient-derived organoids Chan et al. show that enteric neurons influence lipid metabolism in gastric cancer organoids, affecting dependencies on key enzymes. Using CRISPR screening and metabolic analysis, their work highlights how microenvironmental signals impact tumor metabolism and potential treatment targets in gastric cancer.

Unmasking cancer’s hidden nerve route with patient-derived organoids

Heliya Ziaei stands in front of the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology of USC door with her certificate for winning first place in the Student Competition at the AADOCR Southern California Section Research Symposium

🎉 Congratulations to Heliya Ziaei for winning first place in the Student Competition at the 2025 @aadocr.bsky.social Southern California Section Research Symposium, where she presented on the important role of Kdm6b in tooth root development earlier this year.

If you are attending the poster session at the Society for Craniofacial Genetics and Developmental Biology meeting this year, make sure to stop by and say hi to Rob and Alejandro at the FaceBase poster and demo! @scgdb.bsky.social

Featured resource: Facebase - the Node Our ‘Featured resource’ series aims to shine a light on the resources that support our research – the unsung heroes of the science world. In this post, we learn about the data and functionalities avai...

Featured resource: Facebase

In this post, we learn about the data and functionalities available at Facebase @facebase.bsky.social, and hear about new initiatives they are developing.

thenode.biologists.com/featured-res...

Check out our latest publication on lymphatic vessel identification by Jeff Chen's lab! 🧪 #CCMBUSC #Science #Lymphatics #USCResearch

President Kim, Provost, deans, former Governor Schwarzenegger + democracy — hear why your voice matters. #DemocracyDay

Fangzhou "Jo" Bian with her 2025 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Young Investigator Award

Fangzhou "Jo" Bian with her 2025 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Young Investigator Award standing next to her PI and mentor, Dr. Zhaoyang Liu

Congratulations to Liu lab's Jo Bian on receiving the 2025 ASBMR Young Investigator Award for her abstract, “A Cartilage-Enriched G Protein-Coupled Receptor Maintains Articular Cartilage Homeostasis via Promoting Gs Signaling in Mice,” which she presented at the @asbmr.bsky.social Annual Meeting!

The research that saves lives, sparks innovation and drives change is happening right now. Thanks to Big Ten universities, solutions are being delivered to help communities grow, thrive and overcome challenges.

Associate Professor Jianfu Chen welcomes the newest group of Craniofacial Biology (CBY) PhD students at CBY Orientation Day

On Tuesday, we welcomed our newest Craniofacial Biology (CBY) students with a fun and information Orientation Day! To learn more about our CBY program, check out the CBY website.
dentistry.usc.edu/educational-...

Research Research is fundamental to USC’s mission. It expands human knowledge, cures diseases and saves lives, and serves our community, economy and nation.

"Research is fundamental to USC's mission. Thank you for supporting the faculty who have dedicated their lives to this vital work.” - Interim President Beong Kim #FightOnForResearch weare.sc/rsl-by

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...

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

Hello! We are the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology of the University of Southern California. May we please be added to the feed? ccmb.usc.edu

Newly appointed Dean Yang Chai of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

🎉 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

Figure 1 from publication depicting scRNA-Seq data on embryonic mouse palate from stages E12.5 through E18.5 and Spatial Genomics data on embryonic mouse head from histological sections from stages E12.5 through E15.5

FaceBase has released new datasets from a Nature Communications paper on TGF-β Signaling and Craniofacial Morphogenesis with high resolution spatial genomics and scRNA-Seq data!

Learn more here:
www.facebase.org/2025/05/20/r...

We're hiring research lab technicians and postdoctoral scholars

We're hiring! For more information, visit ccmb.usc.edu/employment-o.... #CCMBUSC #ScienceJobs #CareersinScience #LabLife #MolecularBiology