Dr. Justin K. Ichida is an Associate Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the John Douglas French Foundation Endowed Professor at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Prior to joining USC, Dr. Ichida earned his Ph.D. at Harvard Medical School and did postdoctoral work on cellular reprogramming at Harvard University. Dr. Ichida conducts research on the etiology, pathogenesis, genetics, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. His work has garnered many awards, including an NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award, a Pathway to Independence Award from the National Institutes of Health, the New York Stem Cell Foundation-Robertson Investigator Award, the Richard N. Merkin Endowed Assistant Professorship, and the Donald and Delia Baxter Foundation Faculty Scholar Award. In December 2017, Ichida received the Champion for a Cure Award from the ALS Association, the highest honor the ALS Association bestows on scientists for distinguished intellectual achievements.