Cancer Center at Illinois

Congratulations to CCIL researchers Hyunjoon Kong and Xing Wang, who have been named Senior Members by the National Academy of Inventors! 👏 🔗 go.illinois.edu/KongWang

Join us for a special documentary and reception! 🎥 🟠 April 23 | 4 p.m. | Beckman Institute The CCIL will host a screening of "Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp the Biotech Revolution." 🔗 go.illinois.edu/CrackingtheCode

CCIL Director Rohit Bhargava joined News-Gazette Radio on #WorldCancerDay to talk about how far cancer research has come, and promising advancements in the works. 🔗 Listen here around the 2 minute mark: go.illinois.edu/WorldCancerDay

Congratulations to Dhanush Gandavadi and Revathi Manoharaan - both members of CCIL research labs - for receiving a Biohub Spark Award! 🎉 🔗 Learn more about their projects and Biohub: go.illinois.edu/SparkAward

New research from #ILLINOIS fills in critical gaps when it comes to understanding the relationship between testicular cancer growth and PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances also known as "forever chemicals." 🔗 go.illinois.edu/SinghSpinella

A new initiative between the CCIL and National Center for Supercomputing Applications - NCSA unites scientists working on cancer with experts in artificial intelligence to support projects that will accelerate cancer research. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/CDI

NEW: Researchers studying #breastcancer have identified a protein that can help shift immune cells into "attack cancer mode." The team will now work to boost this protein's activity in tumors and evaluate if it can be combined with existing therapies. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/NelsonProtein

🎥 IN THE NEWS: CCIL researcher Erik Nelson shared his lab's recent breast cancer research on @wcia3news, explaining a link they found between cholesterol and cancer progression. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/WCIANelson

Congratulations to CCIL Phillip and Ann Sharp Director Rohit Bhargava, who has been named a National Academy of Inventors fellow! 👏 Jean-Pierre Leburton, Gregory Stillman Emeritus Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering was also named. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/BhargavaLeburt…

Researchers are targeting ovarian cancer with the development of a chip system that allows them to study how the disease spreads. The goal is to eventually create patient-specific models. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/Leggett

It's been a year of progress at the CCIL! Our researchers have pushed the boundaries of cancer discovery and expanded opportunities for the student scientists who will shape tomorrow's treatments. We're looking forward to new opportunities in 2026! 🎉 🔗 go.illinois.edu/2025Review

A new study from #ILLINOIS researchers found that patients with ER-positive breast cancer who lived in disadvantaged neighborhoods showed higher levels of inflammation- and stress-related biomarkers compared with those in more affluent areas. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/HannahHeath

New findings from #ILLINOIS researchers show that a small molecule in our DNA (called snaR-A) could drive cancer growth. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/VanBortle

#ILLINOIS researchers have developed a simpler and faster way to build DNA nanostructures, allowing them to perform better in biological environments. CCIL member Xing Wang has used DNA nanostructures targeted cancer drug delivery. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/DNAnanostructu…

November is #LungCancerAwarenessMonth A team led by CCIL researchers is improving an imaging system used in bronchoscopy procedures to find small lung nodules. Their new camera has improved the system's imaging sensitivity by 10 times. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/LungCancer2025

💡 NEW DISCOVERY: Researchers have found that a naturally occurring protein boosts the effectiveness of certain breast cancer treatments, helping with the rupture of cancer cells. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/Shapiro

NEW: #ILLINOIS researchers have discovered a communication pathway that helps breast cancer spread. The team will now work on developing treatment strategies that disrupt the pathway, with a goal of preventing metastasis. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/NelsonBreastCa…

NEW OPPORTUNITY: The CCIL introduces the Cancer Education Undergraduate Certificate! This certificate program is open to undergraduate students who demonstrate a sustained commitment to cancer education through learning, outreach, and research. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/UndergraduateC…

EMPOWERING STUDENT RESEARCHERS 🔶🔷 Ph.D. student Rana Abbed is researching breast and ovarian cancers. The Deborah M. House Fund for Cancer Research recently supported Abbed’s work through a collaboration with Siteman Cancer Center. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/HouseFund

Researchers at #ILLINOIS have developed a way to track chemotherapy drugs inside of cancer cells. This ground-breaking research focuses on a transformed version of a widely used chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin, which makes the drug detectable. 🔗 go.illinois.edu/Richard