Cholesterol and cancer: Q&A with the Nelson Lab

A rendering of cholesterol and red blood cells in the body.
Cholesterol is an essential lipid that plays a critical role in hormone production, digestion, and immune function. The ability to maintain a balanced level of cholesterol — known as cholesterol homeostasis — can influence tumor growth, progression, and immune response. High cholesterol levels have...

Q&A: Dr. Paul Donlin-Asp (UI MCB BS ’09, PhD ’17)

A man with grey hair, tortoiseshell glasses, and a zebra striped coat.
As an MCB major at the University of Illinois, Dr. Paul Donlin-Asp was an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Andrew Belmont’s lab and went on to pursue his PhD at Emory University. A former researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research’s Department of Synaptic Plasticity, he is now the...

2024 Toogun Award winner recognized for exceptional research

Six students sit on a white staircase in front of a blue sky.
Established in 2015, the Oyetunji A. Toogun Memorial Award for Excellence in Research is an annual award named in honor of Tunji Toogun, a PhD student in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology who passed away in 2007. The annual award recognizes CDB graduate students for their...