Sixteen Illinois researchers, including twelve from the IGB, have been selected to become part of the inaugural cohort of Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago Investigators. The group, which will focus on instrumented tissues, inflammation, and the functions of the immune system, also includes investigators from Northwestern University and University of Chicago. 

Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago, which was announced in 2023, brings together researchers to develop technologies capable of making precise, molecular-level measurements of biological processes within human tissues. Understanding and treating the inflammatory states that underlie many diseases is its ultimate goal.

“The CZ Biohub Chicago is focused on high-risk, high-reward research, and the selection of these 16 Illinois investigators—from so many colleges and institutes across the university—underscores the breadth of research excellence on our campus," said Susan Martinis, the vice chancellor for research and innovation at Illinois.

In additition to the IGB, U. of I colleges and research institutes represented in the Biohub cohort include the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Grainger College of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, the Cancer Center at Illinois, and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. 

The CZ Investigator Teams consist of the following: Amy Wagoner Johnson, Mechanical Science & Engineering (EIRH/RBTE), Indrani Bagchi, Comparative Biosciences (EIRH co-leader), Bradley Sutton, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Ayelet Ziv-Gal, Comparative Biosciences; M. Taher Saif, Mechanical Science & Engineering (M-CELS/RBTE); Hyun Jjoon Kong, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (M-CELS leader/EIRH/RBTE) and Qian Chen, Materials Science & Engineering (M-CELS); Bumsoo Han, Mechanical Science & Engineering (M-CELS) and Martha Gillette, Cell & Developmental Biology (GNDP/M-CELS); and Catherine Murphy, Chemistry, and Rohit Bhargava, Bioengineering (CGD). The remaining investigators are Auinash Kalostra, Biochemistry (CGD/GNDP); Mei Shen, Chemistry (GNDP); Shannon Sirk, Bioengineering (MME/MMG); Jonathan Sweedler, Chemistry (BSD/CABBI/MMG), and Yurii Vlasov, Electrical and Computer Engineering.