A cellular protein, FGD3, boosts breast cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy

Six researchers gather in a lab
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,...

Unprecedented Compound Takes a Step Toward Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

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Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer is the most common form of breast cancer, affecting approximately 75 percent of breast cancer patients. In advanced and metastatic form, it is lethal, claiming the lives of nearly 350,000 individuals annually. Presently, no drug is able to eradicate these...

Researchers demonstrate new cancer drug development method

Emad Tajkhorshid poses by journal covers
Researchers from the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago collaborated to highlight lipid-protein interaction as a new avenue for oncology drug development.

New faculty members begin teaching and research at U of I

Roughly a dozen new faculty members in the College of LAS stand together for a group photo indoors.
The College of LAS is welcoming 38 new professors for the 2022-23 academic year. Their new positions range from clinical professors to assistant professors and an endowed position in more than 20 academic units, ranging from African American studies to economics, philosophy, statistics, and several...

Mining microbial genomes to discover natural products

Image of plants with graphics of molecular compounds overlayed.
The world around us contains many chemicals that are useful for medicines, crop protection, and animal health. These chemicals—known as natural products—have typically been discovered by sheer luck. Unsurprisingly, traditional techniques often find the same products, like antibiotics, repeatedly...

Meet Kevin Van Bortle, assistant professor of cell and developmental biology

Headshot of Kevin Van Bortle
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and Department of Cell & Developmental Biology are thrilled to welcome new faculty member Kevin Van Bortle! He joins us from the Stanford University School of Medicine, where he conducted his postdoctoral research. We recently spoke with him about...