Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB)

The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) is dedicated to transformative research and technology in life sciences. Team-based themes tackle grand societal challenges in food security, energy, health, technology, and environmental conservation. Its facilities include a microfabrication lab, plant growth facility, and a microscopy suite.

Gut bacteria help digest dietary fiber, release important antioxidant

2021-01-27

Dietary fiber found in grains is a large component of many diets, but little is understood about how we digest the fiber, as humans lack enzymes to break down the complex molecules. Some species of gut bacteria break down the fiber in such a way that it not only becomes digestible, but releases...

Welcome to Professor Nicholas Wu

2021-01-20

Professor Wu was one of ten new faculty hires made in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the last three years. Wu is an assistant professor of and is an affiliate of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.

Welcome to Professor Pamela Martinez

2021-01-20

Professor Martinez was one of ten new faculty hires made in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the last three years. Martinez is an assistant professor of microbiology and statistics and is an affiliate of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, as well as the Department of...

Welcome to Professor Collin Kieffer

2021-01-20

Professor Kieffer was one of ten new faculty hires made in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the last three years. Kieffer is an assistant professor of microbiology, and is also an affiliate of Infection Genomics for One Health (IGOH) theme at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic...

Microbiology professor Rachel Whitaker named a University Scholar

2020-12-11

Rachel Whitaker sits at desk, smiling for camera.

Congratulations to Rachel Whitaker for being chosen as a University Scholar. Whitaker, a professor of microbiology...

Erik Nelson receives $4.5M grant to study prevention and treatment of metastatic breast cancer

2020-11-03

Erik Nelson, professor of molecular and integrative physiology, has won a $4.5 million Era of Hope Scholar Award from the United States Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program.This prestigious award supports individuals early in their careers who have demonstrated significant potential...

Cholesterol metabolite causes immune system to attack T cells instead of breast cancer, study finds

2020-09-15

In breast cancer tumors, a molecule produced when the body breaks down cholesterol hijacks the myeloid immune cells that normally arm T cells to fight cancer, a new study in mice found. Instead, the hijacked myeloid cells disarm the T cells and even tell them to self-destruct.

Collaborative team awarded $12.5 million for new NSF Biology Integration Institute

2020-09-10

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a five-year, $12.5 million grant to integrate biology to a collaborative team based in the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The new institute, Genomics and Eco-evolution of Multi-scale...

Volunteers at Illinois produce supplies for 200,000 COVID-19 tests

2020-07-07

A vial of Viral Transport Medium produced at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. The fluid is used to preserve patient test samples for COVID-19. (Image courtesy of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.)

A collaborative effort at the University of Illinois to support COVID-19 testing is winding down, but not before it produced enough materials to support some 200,000 coronavirus tests across the state.

Engineered immune cells recognize, attack human and mouse solid-tumor cancer cells

2020-06-29

Silhouette of Preeti Sharma holding up a 250 ml pyrex vial with a bit of liquid inside against a window.

A method known as CAR-T therapy has been used successfully in patients with blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia. It modifies a patient’s own T-cells by adding a piece of an antibody that recognizes unique features on the surface of cancer cells. In a new study, researchers report that they...

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