Innovation Insider
Read the stories of our cancer research impact.
Volume 6 – Now Available
Volume 6
Volume 5
Volume 4
Director’s Message
The Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) continues to forge ahead with a bold vision to change cancer as we know it. We have always aimed to solve cancer problems using our unique scientific and engineering approaches to benefit individuals, communities, and society. These benefits take many forms—knowledge, new technologies, novel drugs, and improved lives—but are all based in world-class research by our members, trainees, and dedicated collaborators, the hard work of our staff, and your support!
The Stories
Innovation Insider, Volume 6
“Cancer is a very individualistic disease. Each treatment scenario is so incredibly unique,
so that’s why it’s so important for researchers and patients to talk.”
Patient-First Cancer Research: Building Bridges Between Survivors and Investigators
Developing AI Solutions that Benefit Patients and Survivors
Hunting for Cancer’s Evolutionary Trees among the Wild Edges of Biology and AI
“The challenge today is to harness this technology to provide useful, cost-effective, and life-changing tools. That’s why the CCIL is focused on building equitable and effective AI tools of tomorrow that will
ultimately help us enhance personalized treatments for all patients and survivors who seek to overcome cancer.”
Developing Potent Immunotherapies for Kidney Cancer According
Transforming Cancer Research and Care: Manufacturing Tumor Models
Transforming Cancer Research and Care: Improving Surgical Precision
“We are at the forefront of the fundamental science of AI on our campus. There’s a great opportunity
to connect with those on the application side as we develop the science. I see the implications
for basic cancer science that can be translated to the clinic. Cancer immunotherapy—
personalized medicine—is one of the prime areas where AI will help us leverage individual patient’s immune systems to clean up cancer.”
Nine CCIL Members Named to Inaugural CZ Biohub Chicago Cohort
Creating Tools to Diagnose and Treat Head and Neck Cancers
Novel Wound Healing Technology Aims to Help Patients Heal More Quickly after Cancer Surgery
“Advancing our understanding of cancer requires new ideas and new partnerships. The CZI Biohub brings a new research effort to the state, forges connections between three leading Illinois universities, and enables exciting new research partnerships.”
New Approach Enables Sensitive and Affordable Biomarker Detection
Cousins Team Up to Tackle Glioblastoma
New Therapeutic to Reduce Cancer Treatment Side Effects
“This is what creates a path toward sophisticated health diagnostics making their way to our health clinics, farms, and homes.”
‘Forever Chemicals’ Linked to Testicular Cancer Tumor Growth
High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging Methods to Map Tumors
A Novel ‘Drug Depot’ Technology for Prevention of Post-Surgical Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Recurrence
“With this grant, our two labs will develop tools to study the processes involved in the cancer cell invasion and proliferation, hopefully identifying better target and a better anti-cancer compound that will open the door to longer survival times for patients suffering from glioblastoma.”
Study Links Neighborhood Violence and Lung Cancer Progression
CCIL Postdoc Is ‘The Mad Bioengineer’ with a Passion for STEM & Science Communication
Graduate Student’s AI Research Seeks to Improve Medical Imaging Sourya Sengupta
“Cancer is an extremely complicated disease, so it is necessary to develop tools that help to make the diagnosis process faster and more efficient. AI tools can be important for this, especially in places where patients highly outnumber doctors.”
Cancer Scholars Program Student Spotlight: Leah Ju
Cancer Scholars Program Student Spotlight: Myra Kamdar
researcHStart Program Empowers High School Students
“This project highlights how essential collaboration is in cancer research. We’re better together.”
Why I Study Cancer
Every journey to cancer research begins with a story. Meet the faces and hear the stories behind the science motivating the Cancer Center at Illinois’ pioneering research.
Innovation Insider is a Cancer Center at Illinois publication that highlights the interdisciplinary and translational cancer research of CCIL members, students, and collaborators.
Managing Editor: Jonathan King
Designer: Jamie Hedrick
Contributing Writers: Jenny Applequist, Katie Brady, Jessica Clegg, Beth Hart, Jonathan King, Shelby Lawson, Diana Yates
Photo Credit: Fred Zwicky
To learn more about the researchers and stories featured in the Innovation Insider, email us at cancercenter@illinois.edu.