The vision for the USC Center for Neuronal Longevity (CNL) is to develop a world-leading center of excellence with a focus on adaptive, programmable, interventional bioengineered systems to prevent and treat prevalent neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and retina that have no foreseeable cure. Unlike other past and current technologies, which focus on developing neuroprosthetics to bypass damaged tissue to restore senses, reduce parkinsonian tremor, or use neural control of robotic limbs to restore motion, CNL focuses on neuronal longevity by preventing neuronal loss in neurodegenerative diseases; because once neurons are lost, they cannot be restored. CNL will achieve its goal by creating a new class of micro- and nano-scale engineering systems that, in their final rendition, can be controlled in part by commonly available portable devices and will induce primary healing and/or prevent further neuronal and functional loss. CNL takes pride in its global leadership as a preeminent Center, sharing the responsibility of producing a diverse group of scholars who fully reflect a pluralistic society. Through our world-class faculty, academic programs, and student support, CNL is committed to attracting, retaining, educating, graduating, and placing outstanding scholars who are life-long learners from all backgrounds and demographic sectors of our multi-cultural world into positions of leadership where they can shape the future of engineering systems for neuronal longevity. Currently, we are focusing on the following goals:
- Increase the diversity of faculty, researchers, and postdocs involved in CNL through recruitment and promotion.
- Increase undergraduate and graduate student diversity among participants in CNL research and education programs
- Increase the student diversity in recruitment in CNL interdisciplinary fields and STEM careers.
CNL is a multidisciplinary, cross-campus venture that aims to bring together Keck School of Medicine, Viterbi School of Engineering, and the School of Pharmacy. Its research builds upon decades of knowledge and the success of the world’s first FDA-approved retinal implant to restore sight to the blind. CNL also has industrial partnerships with companies like Twenty/Twenty Therapeutics, focused on digital eye-care.
CNL uses a pioneering approach through an electromagnetic stimulation platform to slow, stop or even reverse the damage to nerve cells. Currently, the technology is specific to the eye but the center plans to develop it further and apply the same techniques to treat other neurodegenerative diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer’s. The center is currently focused on creating a new class of micro and nano-scale engineering systems that can be controlled by portable devices and can induce healing and prevention of neuronal and functional loss.
For more information about USC Center for Neuronal Longevity, please visit: https://keck.usc.edu/neuronal-longevity-center/