CCIL researcher Hua Wang holds a research team meeting in his laboratory in the Materials Science and Engineering building
As part of our ongoing self-evaluation and strategic review processes, the Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) is revising the names and themes of our two research programs to more accurately reflect the research activities of our members, based on a careful review of CCIL member grants, publication, and collaborative activities, and in keeping with the CCIL’s strategic directions.
“The changes to our research programs are more than just different names. As a cancer research institute, we are always evaluating the impact of our efforts,” said CCIL Director Rohit Bhargava. “Whether it’s improved imaging or more effective therapies, the CCIL’s research programs are developing the technologies and programs that will change cancer care forever.”
The Cancer Engineering and Biological Systems (CEB) Program (formerly Cancer Discovery Platforms Bridging the Engineering-Biology Continuum) focuses on the pathophysiological process linked to cancer progression, drug efficacy, and malignant cellular vulnerabilities via its three central themes:
- Mechanistic and quantitative biology
- Anti-cancer chemistry
- Comparative and engineered oncology models
CEB leaders Brendan Harley, the Robert W. Schaefer Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Erik Nelson, a molecular and integrative physiology associate professor, will guide the program. Harley specializes in 3D cell culture, brain cancer, and tumor microenvironment. Nelson is a trained endocrinologist who develops novel preventative strategies and lifestyle changes to reduce cancer incidence and mortality.
The Cancer Technology and Data Science (CTD) Program (formerly Cancer Measurement Technology and Data Science) explores fundamental advances in measurement technologies and data science, harnessing them to accelerate cancer research and provide clinical information faster and earlier via its three core themes:
- Cancer imaging
- Molecular measurement
- Computational engineering and data science
CTD leaders Brian Cunningham, the Intel Alumni Endowed Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Viktor Gruev, the Dunning Endowed Faculty Scholar in Electrical and Computer Engineering, will lead the program. Cunningham specializes in cancer diagnostics, cervical cancer, nanotechnology, oral cancer, and prostate cancer. Gruev focuses on breast cancer, cancer imaging, DNA, and lung cancer.
Find out more about CCIL research programs, their members, and their impact here.