This summer, a group of six high school students from central Illinois dedicated their time to cancer research; building their skills and making connections beyond the lab. They participated in the ResearcHStart program, an opportunity for high schoolers to gain hands-on experience working in the labs of Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) members.
This program is a partnership between the University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago, Northwestern University, and Rush University. Since 2015, dozens of Illinois faculty members and researchers have worked with ResearcHStart trainees, providing guidance on a variety of projects. This year’s topics ranged from investigations involving the tumor microenvironment to studying how AI platforms can assist in cancer research.
In addition to the research skills they developed over eight weeks, students connected with their peers and mentors, learned how to overcome challenges, and took steps toward their personal and professional goals. The program culminated in a poster presentation alongside ResearcHStart trainees from the other partner institutions, with Illinois cohort member Zak Pyo receiving first place honors for his research poster.
Like the more than 200 ResearcHStart participants who came before them, the 2026 ResearcHStart cohort leaves with new skills, experiences, and connections, ready to continue their journeys in science.
Liver Cancer Detection & Early Warning Signs
Diego Marguccio worked in CCIL member Sayee Anakk’s lab where he identified early warning signs of liver cancer in a mouse model.
“The best part of the ResearcHStart experience is the satisfaction of making progress in your personal, unique project and forming lasting connections with colleagues.”
Immunology & Tumor Prevention
Anjali Kumar worked in CCIL member Lin-Feng Chen’s lab, where she studied how certain immune cells can prevent the body’s immune system from attacking tumors.
“The best part of the ResearcHStart experience has been getting hands-on experience in a real research lab. I’ve enjoyed learning new lab techniques, working closely with my mentor, and making friends with other students along the way.”
mRNA Vaccines & Cancer Immunotherapy
Ruijing Tang worked in CCIL member Hua Wang’s lab, where she investigated whether mRNA vaccines could deliver proteins or antigens that help immune cells called macrophages better fight cancer.
“I was interested in ResearcHStart for the cancer research experience the program offered. I thought it would be a great opportunity to connect with students of similar interest as me and learn from them. It gave me a sense of ‘finding my community.'”
AI & Molecular Cancer Research
Zak Pyo worked in CCIL member Xing Wang’s lab, where he helped validate an AI-powered platform that predicts which DNA molecules are most likely to bind to specific proteins, making it easier for researchers to identify new treatment targets.
“I was interested in ResearcHStart because it gave me the opportunity to be part of the research process and learn directly from my mentors. I wanted to see firsthand how novel discoveries are made moving from ideas to experiments.”
PFAS & Gene Regulation
Amber Bills worked in CCIL member Ratnakar Singh’s lab, where she studied two PFAS chemicals and looked at whether they change the activity of genes involved in cancer development.
“The best part of the ResearcHStart experience is meeting so many like-minded individuals who share my passion for science and cancer research.”
Tumor Microenvironment & Cell Interactions
Samiha Thatikonda worked in CCIL member Kun Wang’s lab where she observed significant cell-to-cell interactions in colon cancer tumor microenvironment.
“The best part of it was working with all my peers and mentor while I learned about topics that have never crossed my mind before.”
Editor’s Note:
This story was written by Florence Lin, CCIL Communications Intern.