Life Inspiring

At the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

We seek answers to fundamental questions about how organisms work and the many implications for life. Through a rich culture of collaboration, we drive new discoveries in human health and empower students with the critical and analytical skills needed for successful careers.

News from the School of MCB

Ligand Gated Ion Channel
Grosman lab clarifies ‘mechanical link’ behind inter-neuron communication
In new research, University of Illinois scientists have challenged previously held scientific ideas about loop-C’s functional role within ligand-gated ion channels, deepening biologists’ understanding of the complex neurotransmission process.Their study,...
CREW Students
MCB undergrads flourish in federal work-study CREW program
Ask any scientist and they’ll tell you what a joy it is to discover something they didn’t know they didn’t know. “The best parts of science tend to be serendipitous,” said the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology’s Jhewelle Fitz-Henley. “The things that you find out, you’re like, ‘I did not...

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School of MCB celebrates faculty, staff awards
Congratulations to recipients of this year's School of MCB faculty and staff awards!It is a school tradition to recognize outstanding members of the community at our year-end holiday party, and this year we presented awards across seven categories, honoring achievements in research, teaching, and...
students view posters of research
Congratulations to winners of the MCB Undergraduate Research Symposium
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is proud to announce the winners of our 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium, held on November 12, 2025. Sixty-five students presented posters of their research to attendees of the event, which was held at the Illini Union.This...
Three scientists next to a microscope
MCB researchers unveil new actin filament behavior in the cellular cytoskeleton
Imagine a treadmill. As it moves, the track is constantly receding but is replenished at an equal rate on the opposite end. The result is a machine in perpetual motion, but which has its length stay exactly the same. For decades, biologists have regarded “treadmilling” as the standard...
Adesanya and Kalsotra
Researchers uncover the molecular basis of mitochondrial dysfunction in myotonic dystrophy type 1
Myotonic Dystrophy type 1, also known as DM1, is a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness, delayed muscle relaxation, and cardiac issues that can often be life-threatening. It is the most common cause of adult-onset muscular dystrophy and affects roughly 1 in 2,000 individuals...
Seven resesarchers gather in Dr. Kevin Van Bortle's cell and developmental biology lab
In new research, Van Bortle Lab untangles a noncoding RNA-based mechanism of cancer progression
Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are piecing together how cancer-emergent non-coding RNAs, or ncRNAs, contribute to disease-related cell phenotypes. The Van Bortle lab has focused extensively on RNA polymerase III (Pol III) —...
image of mouse lung and headshot of man in blue and pink checked shirt
Meet Michael Schappe, new assistant professor of molecular and integrative physiology
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology are pleased to welcome new faculty member Dr. Michael Schappe. He joins the school as an assistant...
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Innovative education

Our mission is to empower students. In MCB you will receive a rigorous education and you can tailor a curriculum according to your passions. Our alumni have become physicians, researchers at top-tier institutions, and business leaders. They've launched biotechnology start-ups and founded free healthcare clinics. They are changing the world. You can, too.

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Impactful research

We are at the forefront of life-changing biomedical research. Combatting infectious diseases like influenza. Uncovering insights into neurological and metabolic disorders. Developing new treatments for diseases such as breast cancer. New and exciting research programs are being developed in neuroscience, immunology, microbial sciences, developmental biology, mechanobiology, and much more. Faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates are all part of the MCB research community.

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