| University of Southern California | |
|---|---|
| Logo placeholder | |
| Location | Los Angeles, CA, USA |
| Type | University |
| Website | https://www.usc.edu/ |
| Focus Areas | [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers), [Clinical Trials](/clinical-trials) |
| Departments | Alzheimer's Disease Research Center |
University of Southern California is a university located in Los Angeles, CA, USA[1]. The institution is recognized for its contributions to neurodegenerative disease research, with focus areas including Alzheimer's Disease, Clinical Trials.
University of Southern California hosts 8 researchers tracked in the NeuroWiki database and maintains 1 department dedicated to neuroscience research. The institution's research programs span Alzheimer's Disease, Clinical Trials, contributing to both basic science understanding and translational approaches for neurodegenerative conditions.
Through its Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Southern California supports multidisciplinary investigation into the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The institution's researchers have published extensively on topics including Alzheimer's Disease, Clinical Trials and continue to advance the field through clinical trials, biomarker development, and fundamental neuroscience research.
The USC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center[2] is one of the NIH-funded network of Alzheimer's disease research centers. The ADRC focuses on:
The neuroimaging core provides:
The Center for Neural Informatics[3] advances:
Dr. Aisen is an internationally recognized expert in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials. His contributions include:
Director of the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI)[3:1], Dr. Toga is a pioneer in:
A leading neuroimaging researcher[4], Dr. Thompson's work includes:
Contributions include:
USC has been at the forefront of neuroimaging in AD[6]:
USC researchers have contributed to biomarker development:
USC conducts numerous clinical trials[7]:
USC has particular expertise in early-onset AD[2:1]:
USC is a major participant in ADNI, contributing:
USC researchers study biomarker trajectories[8][9]:
Comprehensive program addressing:
| Year | Study | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Thompson et al[5:1] | 3D mapping of AD brain structure |
| 2012 | Toga et al[6:1] | Brain mapping in neurological disorders |
| 2014 | Mattson et al[10] | Neuroprotective signaling |
| 2015 | Aisen et al[7:1] | Clinical trials in early AD |
| 2018 | Jack et al[11] | NIA-AA framework |
| 2020 | Thompson et al[4:1] | Neuroimaging and brain aging |
| 2020 | Ringman et al[2:2] | Early-onset AD |
| 2020 | Toga et al[3:2] | Brain mapping and AD |
While USC is most recognized for Alzheimer's disease research, the institution also maintains significant Parkinson's disease research programs through the Department of Neurology and the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging Core.
The Movement Disorders Program at USC provides comprehensive movement disorder diagnosis, deep brain stimulation evaluation, clinical trial enrollment opportunities, and specialized care for atypical parkinsonism.
Neuroimaging Biomarkers
Genetic Studies
Clinical Trials
The USC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center represents one of the premier NIH-funded research centers dedicated to understanding, preventing, and treating Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. Founded through funding from the National Institute on Aging, the ADRC has established itself as a leader in both basic science discovery and clinical translation[2:3].
The ADRC's research mission encompasses several critical areas:
Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease (ADAD) Program
USC leads international efforts to understand early-onset Alzheimer's disease caused by genetic mutations. The ADAD program follows families with known pathogenic mutations in APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 genes. These studies provide unique insights into the earliest stages of Alzheimer's pathology, often decades before clinical symptoms appear. Research has expanded to include diverse populations beyond traditional European ancestry cohorts[12].
Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID)
The VCID program investigates how cerebrovascular disease contributes to cognitive decline. This research is particularly significant given the prevalence of vascular risk factors in diverse populations. Studies examine the interaction between vascular pathology and Alzheimer's-type neurodegeneration, a relationship that may be especially important in underrepresented ethnic groups[13].
Neuroimaging Innovation
USC's neuroimaging program, anchored by the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI) under the direction of Dr. Arthur Toga, represents one of the world's most advanced brain imaging research programs. The LONI team has pioneered:
The ENIGMA consortium, co-founded by Dr. Thompson, exemplifies USC's leadership in collaborative neuroimaging research, bringing together over 200 institutions worldwide to study brain imaging in psychiatric and neurological disorders[14].
The Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging Core provides state-of-the-art imaging capabilities including:
The Center for Neural Informatics advances computational approaches to understanding brain structure and function:
Dr. Ringman leads USC's efforts in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease research. His work focuses on:
Dr. Chui's research program addresses vascular contributions to dementia:
Dr. Joe directs programs focused on underrepresented populations in Alzheimer's research:
USC maintains an active clinical trials program spanning all phases of drug development:
Disease-Modifying Therapies
Symptomatic Treatments
Prevention Trials
USC researchers have made significant contributions to Alzheimer's biomarker development:
Fluid Biomarkers
Imaging Biomarkers
USC has established itself as a leader in studying Alzheimer's disease across diverse populations:
Latin American AD Research
Particularly notable is USC's work in Latin American populations, where founder mutations have enabled unique studies of autosomal dominant AD in underrepresented groups[12:1]. These studies provide insights into how genetic and environmental factors interact across different ancestries.
APOE and Genetic Risk
Research on APOE and other genetic risk factors in diverse populations has revealed important differences in genetic risk architecture across ancestry groups[17]. This work is essential for developing precision medicine approaches that work for all populations.
The institution supports comprehensive training programs:
Research Training
Clinical Training
Clinical Research Facilities
Data Resources
USC's contributions to neurodegenerative disease research include:
Short-Term Goals (2024-2026)
Long-Term Goals (2026-2030)
University of Southern California official website. 2026. ↩︎
Ringman JM et al. Early-onset Alzheimer disease. Neurol Clin. 2020. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Toga AW et al. Brain mapping and Alzheimer disease. Nat Rev Neurol. 2019. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Thompson PM et al. Neuroimaging and brain aging. Nat Rev Neurol. 2020. ↩︎ ↩︎
Thompson PM et al. 3D mapping of brain structure in AD. Neuroimage. 2007. ↩︎ ↩︎
Toga AW et al. Brain mapping in neurological disorders. Nat Rev Neurol. 2012. ↩︎ ↩︎
Aisen PS et al. Clinical trials in early Alzheimer disease. JAMA. 2015. ↩︎ ↩︎
Jack CR Jr et al. Hypothetical model of AD biomarkers. 2010. ↩︎
Sperling RA et al. Toward defining preclinical AD. 2011. ↩︎
Mattson MP et al. Neuroprotective signaling in Alzheimer disease. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2014. ↩︎
Jack CR Jr et al. NIA-AA framework for Alzheimer disease. 2018. ↩︎
Ringman JM et al. Autosomal dominant AD in Latin America. Neurology. 2022. ↩︎ ↩︎
Chui HC et al. Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment. Nat Rev Neurol. 2018. ↩︎
Thompson PM et al. ENIGMA consortium and brain imaging. Hum Brain Mapp. 2018. ↩︎
Apostolova LG et al. Hippocampal atrophy in AD. Neurology. 2016. ↩︎
Zhou Y et al. White matter hyperintensities in AD. 2019. ↩︎
Li C et al. APOE and AD risk in diverse populations. 2019. ↩︎