News Archive
Collaborative team awarded $12.5 million for new NSF Biology Integration Institute
GEMS
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a five-year, $12.5 million grant to integrate biology to a collaborative team based in the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic…
Portable, point-of-care COVID-19 test could bypass the lab
Liz Ahlberg Touchstone
As COVID-19 continues to spread, bottlenecks in supplies and laboratory personnel have led to long waiting times for results in some areas. In a new study, University of…
Illinois study tracks evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus mutations
Lauren Quinn
Since COVID-19 began its menacing march across Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and then across the world, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has taken a “whatever works” strategy to ensure…
$20M NSF grant, new artificial intelligence institute for molecule synthesis
Alisa King
A team led by Steven L. Miller Chair professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering Huimin Zhao (BSD leader/CABBI/MMG) was awarded a five-year $20 million grant from the…
Personalizing Cancer Diagnostics
Lizzie Roehrs
When assessing whether or not a tumor is benign or cancerous, a needle biopsy is the usual method of diagnosis. The tissue can then be analyzed to determine what mutations are…
Advanced biofuels show real promise for replacing some fossil fuels
Mary Guiden, Colorado State University
Biofuel and bioenergy systems are integral to scenarios for displacing fossil fuel use and producing negative emissions through carbon capture and storage. But the net…
In times of ecological uncertainty, brood parasites hedge their bets
Diana Yates
Some birds lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species and let the host parents raise their young. A new study finds that in times of environmental flux, these brood…
Cowpea research boosts canopy CO2 assimilation, water-use efficiency
Amanda Nguyen
Crops grow dense canopies that consist of several layers of leaves--the upper layers with younger sun leaves and the lower layers with older shaded leaves that may have…
Illinois Team Tracks COVID ‘Spike’ Protein for 2020 iGEM Competition
Julie Wurth
UPDATE: The Illinois team’s “Viralizer” web tool brought home a silver medal at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) 2020…
Integration of gene regulatory networks in understanding animal behavior
Alisa King
For years, scientists have attributed animal behavior to the coordinated activities of neuronal cells and its circuits of neurons, known as the neuronal network (NN). However,…
Donovan to direct new Personalized Nutrition Initiative
Sharon Donovan and Stephanie Henry
Sharon Donovan, professor and Melissa M. Noel Endowed Chair in Nutrition and Health at University of Illinois, will assume the role of director of the newly established…
Intimate partner violence, history of abuse worsen trauma for new moms
Diana Yates
A study assessed the interaction of new and old relationship traumas among women three to 18 months after the birth of their child – one of the most challenging periods of…