Biochemistry | School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

Biochemists investigate the processes in living systems from a molecular perspective. We lead innovative research programs in chemical biology, nucleic acids biochemistry, molecular virology, membrane biochemistry, genomics, microbial physiology, signal transduction & more. We provide tools to develop the next generation of medicine.

Graduates of our undergraduate and PhD programs have become leaders in medicine, pharmacology, agriculture, nutrition, microbiology, cell biology, food technology, pollution control, and biotechnology.

Biochemistry News

Joe and Gilberto stand together in the lab.

Wind-chill out! Researchers discover how flow stresses out bacterial pathogens

Residents of northern states are familiar with the concept and reality of windchill. With the combination of strong winds and the chilly weather, we become more sensitive; it feels colder than the registered temperature. Researchers from the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the...

Illustration of an instrumented tissue mimic

Illinois to co-lead new CZ Biohub in Chicago

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been chosen to lead the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago – a new biomedical hub – along with the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. The three-university team was selected to lead the new biomedical...

Illustration of a human standing with a DNA strand circling the human. Image by Michael Vincent.

Possible genetic basis and mouse model found for severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

A mutant or damaged gene may be a cause of a severe, mysterious form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, researchers at the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology have found. Mice and human liver cells lacking the SRSF1 gene show all the hallmarks of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, also known as...

OLLI will be partnering with different Illinois researchers for the new course. From left: Yang Zhao, Andrew Smith, Brian Cunningham, Hong Jin , and Xing Wang.

Biochemistry professor partners with researchers across campus for genomics workshop

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute has been partnering with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology since 2009. Over the years, they have worked to create several citizen-science programs that bring in people over 50 who are...

Emad Tajkhorshid poses by journal covers

Researchers demonstrate new cancer drug development method

Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago have demonstrated a powerful new approach to small molecule drug development. Published in Nature Chemical Biology, their study...

Group photo of University of Illinois scientists who are receiving the HHMI research funding for influenza research

University of Illinois scientists win $9.5 million to study emerging pathogens

Aquatic birds, especially ducks, can carry influenza viruses but they don’t often become severely ill, leading scientists to wonder how their immune systems act as a reservoir for a highly infectious and pathogenic virus, but the birds remain relatively unharmed. Additionally, could the immune...