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.

MCB News

Students gather to watch a microbiology experiment
Progress on the table: Students and faculty with Cena y Ciencias give children the tools they need to dream
Ricardo Diaz still remembers the night chemistry professor Joaquin Rodriguez-Lopez walked into a room full of kids and told them to throw ketchup on a volunteer wearing a special shirt. Soon the room was enveloped in ketchup, laughter, and gasps...
Graphic with headshot of Sandy Helman and the words In Memoriam
In Memoriam: Emeritus professor Sandy Helman
It is with sadness that the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology share news of the passing of Professor emeritus Sandy Helman. Dr. Helman, an ion-transport physiologist and biophysicist, died on July 14, 2024, at home with his family....

Ben Shapiro wears blue suit and poses in front of steps on Illinois campus
Biochemistry student joins 2024 Homecoming Court
Adding to the continued success of our School of Molecular & Cellular Biology students, biochemistry major Ben Shapiro was recently selected for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 2024 Homecoming...
View of Chemical & Life Sciences Building
New campuswide project will develop rapid manufacturing of tumor models
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will develop a radically new platform to manufacture tumor models and expand their availability for medical research and personalized medicine, thanks to a $21 million grant from the Advanced Research Projects...
A man in a plaid shirt and glasses standing in a laboratory.
Team discovers naturally occurring DNA-protein hybrids
Thanks to a serendipitous discovery and a lot of painstaking work, scientists can now build biohybrid molecules that combine the homing powers of DNA with the broad functional repertoire of proteins — without having to synthesize them one by one, researchers report in a new study. Using a naturally...
A man in a blue shirt and a woman in an orange shirt standing next to a microscope
Arc protein sheds light on cellular trafficking pathway
What talks without being seen or heard? It sounds like a riddle, but neuronal communication had perplexed biochemists until a few years ago, when scientists discovered ways in which neurons talk to each other — not with cell phones or instant messaging, but through the exchange of virus-like...
Three researchers smile for headshots.
A new approach to fighting breast cancer: Researchers identify compound that may help the immune system slow or stop tumor growth
For typical illnesses, the body’s immune system is a robust, pathogen-killing machine. It provides a general defense against harmful germs while also adapting and producing antibodies that target specific bacteria or viruses. After fighting off an infection like the flu, the body produces...
A group of six researchers stand in a lab.
Overcoming drug resistance in breast cancer treatment
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Illinois has discovered a potential new treatment option for drug-resistant breast cancer. Their findings, published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment,...
How will you change the world?

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.

Undergraduate Programs  MS in MCB  PhD Programs

A community of collaborators

Impactful research

We are at the forefront of life-changing biomedical research. Combatting infectious diseases like the novel coronavirus and 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.

Learn more about our research advances

Commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion

Diversity within the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology drives the innovation that keeps our research at the forefront of scientific discovery. However, we recognize that societal, academic, and structural barriers have often kept talented individuals out of our community. We are committed to eliminating these barriers and supporting students and scientists of all backgrounds.

Learn more

Calendar of Events

View all events