Kai Zhang, Professor of Biochemistry, was interviewed by WAND News in October, 2026 for his research into the Nobel Prize-winning technology of optogenetics. Optogenetics, Zhang told WAND, acts like a laser pointer. The technology is able to, for example, kill off cancer cells with...
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce that Emad Tajkhorshid, J. Woodland Hastings Endowed Chair and Professor of Biochemistry,...
Anuprova Bhowmik is a fourth-year Molecular and Cellular Biology and Computer Science + Chemistry student at the University of Illinois. This is her first-hand account of being an undergraduate researcher in an MCB lab and a recipient of the 2026 Berkowitz Summer Undergraduate Research...
University of Illinois researchers have made a breakthrough discovery in the fight against liver cancer. Collaborators Lin-Feng Chen, Susan A. Martinis, and graduate...
The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology is honored to announce that Auinash Kalsotra has been named the Phillip A. Sharp Professor in Biochemistry.Dr. Kalsotra is one of the world’s pre-eminent RNA researchers and has also been...
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce Dr. Guy Padbury as the guest speaker for its May 2026 convocation. On a recent visit to campus, he spoke about his path to Illinois, his work as a translational scientist, and what inspires him. Dr. Padbury’s career has been...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
