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

Six researchers gather in a lab
A cellular protein, FGD3, boosts breast cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy
A naturally occurring protein that tends to be expressed at higher levels in breast cancer cells boosts the effectiveness of some anticancer agents, including doxorubicin, one of the most widely used chemotherapies, and a preclinical drug known as ErSO, researchers report. The protein, FGD3,...
Headshots of two researchers standing by lab bench
Researchers aim to disrupt breast cancer line of communication and prevent spread
University of Illinois researcher Erik Nelson and members of his lab have made an important discovery about the relationship between cholesterol and breast cancer progression with crucial implications for breast cancer therapeutics....

From left: headshot of man in striped shirt, man in jacket and heat stands in woods
Scientists link neuronal hyperactivity and broader tuning with altered sound processing
In a study that combines behavioral tests, computer models and electrophysiological recordings of neuron activity, researchers have found that hyperactivity of neurons in the auditory cortex and the reaction of these neurons to an unusually broad range of frequencies contribute to distorted...
Electron micrographs of bacterial viruses
Illinois-led initiative will build precision phage platform for promoting health
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scientists, including microbiology professor Asma Hatoum-Aslan, will partner with investigators from several industrial and academic institutions on a five-year, up to $28M...
A smiling woman standing in front of a bookshelf wearing a blue shirt and scarf
How do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the deadly drug-resistant bacteria NDM-CRE found a 70% rise in infections in the U.S. between 2019 and 2023. Also known as “nightmare bacteria,” NDM-CRE has few...
DNA illustration overlayed on computer code
School of MCB launches new MCB + Data Science major
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce a new undergraduate program: the bachelor of science degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology + Data Science.The new major comes at a time when artificial intelligence, machine learning, high-throughput...
The oPool+ display platform combines technologies to make and test large numbers of antibodies at once. Illinois researchers analyzed how antibodies bind to the influenza protein hemagglutinin. Image by Owen Ouyang
High-volume antibody testing platform could accelerate disease research and treatment development
Antibodies are the critical targeting agents of the immune system and the crux of immune therapy and vaccine development, but studying them is slow, expensive and labor-intensive. Now, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a new high-volume method that can...
retreat organizers stand in two rows with the keynote speaker and school director
MCB graduate research shines at annual retreat
Over 240 scholars from across the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and related units gathered at the I Hotel and Conference Center on Aug. 19, 2025, for the school's annual Graduate Research Retreat. Seventy-two graduate students presented their research as oral or poster presentations....
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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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