News Archive
Knowledge Engine is ready to accelerate genomic research
Claudia Lutz
Five years ago, a team of computer scientists, biomedical researchers, and bioinformaticians set out to bring the power of collective knowledge to genomic research. Their new…
Stephen Long invested as Ikenberry Chair Professor, Plant Biology & Crop Sciences
Claire Benjamin
University of Illinois Provost Andreas C. Cangellaris held the investiture of Stephen P. Long as the Stanley O. Ikenberry Chair Professor of Plant Biology and Crop Sciences on…
New Center for Genomic Diagnostics will reimagine disease detection technologies
Claudia Lutz
A new research center at the University of Illinois directed by Donald Biggar Willett Professor in Engineering Brian Cunningham aims to revolutionize diagnostics and…
Researchers reverse engineer interaction dynamics of microbial communities
Claudia Lutz
Scientific and public appreciation for microbes—and the key role their communal actions play in environmental health, food production, and human wellness—has grown in recent…
Student improves bioinformatics software to better analyze human DNA
Lizzie Roehrs
Human beings have around 10 trillion cells in their bodies, resulting in about 10 billion miles of DNA - almost twice the diameter of the solar system. Coordinated Science Lab…
BRIDGE-ing the gap between diagnostics and gestational diabetes
Alisa King
As a result of intersecting research interests in women’s health, a new collaboration was forged between Zeynep Madak-Erdogan (GSP/ONC-PM), Assistant Professor in Food Science…
New compounds block master regulator of cancer growth, metastasis
Diana Yates
Scientists have developed new drug compounds that thwart the pro-cancer activity of FOXM1, a transcription factor that regulates the activity of dozens of genes. The new…
For CRISPR, tweaking DNA fragments yields highest efficiency rates yet
Liz Ahlberg Touchstone
University of Illinois researchers achieved the highest reported rates of inserting genes into human cells with the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system, a necessary step for…
Scientists develop gentle, microscopic hands to study tiny, soft materials
Lois Yoksoulian
Handling very soft, delicate items without damaging them is hard enough with human hands, let alone doing it at the microscopic scale with laboratory instruments. Three new…
Single-molecule detection of cancer markers brings liquid biopsy closer to clinic
Liz Ahlberg Touchstone
A fast, inexpensive yet sensitive technique to detect cancer markers is bringing researchers closer to a “liquid biopsy" – a test using a small sample of blood or serum to…
MAGIC system allows researchers to modulate activity of genes acting in concert
Claudia Lutz
Genomic research has unlocked the capability to edit the genomes of living cells; yet so far, the effects of such changes must be examined in isolation. In contrast, the…
Mathematical models provide snapshot of human gut microbial community
Alisa King
Microbial communities can be found everywhere – from lakes to the soil on the ground, they are omnipresent yet invisible to the naked eye. Within those environments there exist…