Illinois Featured Content

Bioengineering professors pioneer new methods in microscope technology

Nov 13, 2024 9:45 am

The Omni-Mesoscope has the ability to see many cells with clarity. 'The system captures a large number of images like Google Earth, examining the details of sub-cellular structure within each cell across large areas.'

The microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MiGS) wet lab at CI MED provided students with early hands-on experience with devices used in less-invasive procedures to treat glaucoma, known as the 'silent thief of sight.' Photo Credit: Kaden Rawson

CI MED launches first-of-its-kind glaucoma surgery training for students

Oct 31, 2024 9:45 am

The new microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MiGS) lab is a first-of-its-kind wet lab learning opportunity for students, with hands-on training in less-invasive surgical options for preserving glaucoma patients’ sight.

An agricultural robot pulls hoes across the soil between rows of corn.

New Illinois study explores adoption of robotic weeding to fight superweeds

Oct 31, 2024 9:30 am

'The exclusive reliance on herbicides for weed control has led to the appearance of superweeds, and we don’t have anything in the pipeline in terms of new modes of action,' said Professor Madhu Khanna.

University of Illinois professor Angad Mehta, left, Yang-Le Gao and Bidhan De. Photo by Michelle Hassel

Scientists use evolution to bioengineer new pathways to sustainable energy, pharmaceuticals

Aug 26, 2024 1:30 pm

Using evolution as a guide, researchers have engineered bacteria-yeast hybrids to perform photosynthetic carbon assimilation, generate cellular energy and support yeast growth without carbon feedstocks like glucose or glycerol.

The LIFE Home has several assistive robots (Photo by Ethan Simmons)

U. of I. wins international award for study on improving assistive care robots

Sep 25, 2024 11:15 am

The research team designed a process in which an older adult with significant mobile disabilities worked with an occupational therapist and an engineer over two years to improve the design of an assistive robot from Hello Robot Inc.

an elderly couple works with a laptop computer and a microphone

Automatic speech recognition learning to understand people with Parkinson’s

Sep 27, 2024 10:30 am

Listening to people with Parkinson’s disease made an automatic speech recognizer 30% more accurate, according to initial findings from the U. of I.'s Speech Accessibility Project.

A new enzyme-inspired, small-molecule catalyst developed at the University of Illinois holds alcohols and alkenes in just the right proximity and position to join into ethers, key functional components of many consumer goods and pharmaceuticals. Graphic by Jose Vazquez

Enzyme-inspired catalyst puts chemicals in right position to make ethers

Sep 12, 2024 2:45 pm

An enzyme-inspired, small-molecule catalyst developed at the U. of I. holds alcohols and alkenes in just the right proximity and position to join into ethers, key functional components of many consumer goods, pharmaceuticals.

Up to $33 million award to dramatically improve surgical outcomes for cancer tumor removal

Aug 13, 2024 2:00 pm

U of I, Mayo Clinic, and industry clincians partner on the project that combines optical imaging technologies with AI screening tools to ensure, in real time, that tumor tissue and cells are completely removed during surgery.

Leading the project at Illinois are, from left, communication professor Charee Thompson; Dr. Tiffani Dillard, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois; and communication professor Mardia Bishop Photo by Fred Zwicky

Virtual reality training for physicians aims to heal disparities in Black maternal health care

Jul 22, 2024 10:15 am

'Ultimately, this virtual reality training system could become a viable tool for practicing communication with diverse patients across different types of health care professions,' said Professor Charee Thompson.

Graduate student Teak-Jung Oh, foreground, applies focused light to a specific location in a cell culture. The light beam can be narrowed to even smaller than a single cell. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Light targets cells for death and triggers immune response with laser precision

Jul 2, 2024 11:30 am

U. of I. researchers developed a method to precisely target cells for inflammatory cell death using light. The ability to precisely initiate this process in a small area is important for cancer and other diseases.

From 'CyberSlug' to 'CyberOctopus': New AI explores, remembers, seeks novelty, overcomes obstacles

Jun 25, 2024 8:30 am

Rhanor Gillette and Ekaterina Gribkova developed an AI that can navigate new environments, seek novelty and rewards, and learn in real time. Their research into the neural pathways that drive behavior in sea slugs and octopuses guided the work.

Pathlit won first place in the Cozad New Venture Challenge in the spring. Pictured from left is Mark Zhang, Advay Gupta, and Emma Chen. (Photo courtesy of the Grainger College of Engineering Technology Entrepreneur Center.)

Students' award-winning tech startup makes AI easier to use

Jun 12, 2024 1:30 pm

Pathlit is a no code tool that allows business users to rapidly test, build, evaluate, and deploy multiple large language model solutions,saving time and allowing customers to avoid investing heavily in building in-house generative AI teams.

Official ribbon-cutting attended by federal and state dignitaries, including Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois Representative Nikki Budzinski, Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Omer Osman, and U of I Provost John Coleman. Photo Credit: Heather Coit

Launch of U of I's NURail Center celebrates 'the future of rail transport in this country'

May 31, 2024 10:00 am

The U of I opened the National University Rail Center of Excellence on Wednesday. It is the first-ever academic rail research and education center of excellence to be supported by the US DOT's Federal Railroad Administration.

The study team included, back row, from left, graduate student Rebecca Ultrich; chemistry professor Paul Hergenrother; Chris Fields, of the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, research scientist Po-Chao Wen, graduate student Matt Sinclair; and, front row, from left, senior scientist Hyang Yeon Lee; Jessica Holmes, of the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center; and biochemistry professor Emad Tajkhorshid. (Study lead author Kristen Muñoz is not pictured.) Photo by Michelle Hassel

New antibiotic kills pathogenic bacteria, spares healthy gut microbes

May 29, 2024 10:30 am

Researchers have developed a new antibiotic that reduced or eliminated drug-resistant bacterial infections in mouse models of acute pneumonia and sepsis while sparing healthy microbes in the mouse gut.

Graduate student Yingqi Jia, left, and professor Shelly Zhang used machine learning and 3D printing to fabricate a new bio-inspired material that may improve conventional methods for healing broken bones. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Researchers introduce programmable materials to help heal broken bones

May 21, 2024 9:30 am

University of Illinois researchers used machine learning and 3D printing to fabricate a new bio-inspired material that may improve conventional methods for healing broken bones.

YiRang Shin (left) and Pengfei Song in the Song Lab at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. Credit: Elizabeth Bello, Beckman Institute Communications Office.

Researchers advance super-resolution ultrasound imaging with deep learning

Apr 26, 2024 11:15 am

Researchers at U of I's Beckman Institute developed a new technique to make ultrasound localization microscopy, a new diagnostic tool used for high-resolution microvascular imaging, more practical for clinical settings.

Robotic arm equipped with 3D-printed robotic pads developed by Joohyung Kim and collaborators highlighted.

How 3D printers can give robots a soft touch

Apr 24, 2024 10:00 am

U of I researchers' 3D-printed pads function as both soft skin for a robotic arm and pressure-based mechanical sensors, and can be made inexpensively by reprogramming 3-D printers.

Dr. Claudius Conrad. Still image taken from featured video. By University of Illinois Video Services

Bridging the gap: Bringing cancer solutions from lab to bedside

Apr 17, 2024 11:00 am

A world-renowned surgical oncologist has joined the Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) to develop patient-centered solutions through collaborative research.

image of MenoPatch being applied to an arm

Students' personalized menopause therapy solution takes top prize in startup competition

Apr 10, 2024 2:45 pm

A Carle Illinois College of Medicine innovation aimed at personalizing hormone replacement therapy for women experiencing menopausal symptoms has earned top honors at the Midwest’s largest student-run startup conference.

Digital twin of patient's heart could lead to targeted treatment

Mar 26, 2024 9:00 am

A digital model that uses machine learning could simulate various patient-related factors, heart function, and treatments 'to identify the risk of developing heart failure and novel treatment options,' says MD/PhD student Pranav Dorbala.

Snapshots of the implemented legged motions for Ringbot. Top: fall recovery motion; second row: standing-up motion

Inspired by science fiction: A monocycle robot with two legs

Mar 27, 2024 9:00 am

The hybrid leg-wheel mechanism enables the robot to tackle diverse terrains, and to maneuver through narrow spaces, which means this design can be adapted for last-mile deliveries in congested environments.

researcher holds a vial of precious metals eed xtractfrom discarded electronics. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Electrochemistry helps clean up electronic waste recycling, precious metal recovery

Mar 25, 2024 11:15 am

A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows how electrochemistry can be used to extract precious metals from discarded electronics in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner.

Professor Matt Wheeler's portrait is placed beside a picture of the first transgenic cow to produce human insulin in her milk.

Milk to the rescue for diabetics? Illinois project creates first insulin-producing cow

Mar 13, 2024 10:45 am

An unassuming brown bovine from the south of Brazil has made history as the first transgenic cow capable of producing human insulin in her milk. Professor Matt Wheeler helped develop the breakthrough bovine.

the base and binoculars of an electronic microscope. Image Credit: Elizaveta Galitckaia/Shutterstock.com

Reimagining electron microscopy: Bringing high-end resolution to lower-cost microscopes

Mar 6, 2024 10:00 am

U of I researchers have shown for the first time that expensive aberration-corrected microscopes are no longer required to achieve record-breaking microscopic resolution.

Illinois piano professor Rochelle Sennet interacts with a Roosevelt University student during a remote lesson. Photo by Fred Zwicky

U of I piano professors teach remote lessons using reproducing piano technology

Feb 23, 2024 10:45 am

The data from a piano being played is turned into code and sent to Yamaha’s main server in Japan. Disklavier pianos connect to one another through the server, and the exact performance on one piano is reproduced on the other.

nspired by the color-changing abilities of chameleons, researchers developed a dynamic and sustainable color-changing ink seen in this 3D printed chameleon illustration created by the research team. Credit: Sanghyun Jeon, Diao Lab.

A sustainable technique to 3D print multiple dynamic colors from a single ink

Feb 20, 2024 1:15 pm

Inspired by the color-changing ability of chameleons, U of I researchers developed a sustainable technique to 3D-print multiple, dynamic colors from a single ink.

food science and human nutrition professor Yong-Su Jin co-led the research. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Microbial division of labor produces higher biofuel yields

Feb 5, 2024 2:15 pm

Researchers from the Departments of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Bioengineering found a way to increase ethanol production from a mixture of sugars using a microbial division-of-labor approach and mathematical modeling.

graph showing internal quantum efficiency

Toward more efficient LEDs: Mind the (green) gap

Jan 24, 2024 11:15 am

'The ultimate goal is to triple the efficiency of today’s white light emitting diodes. And to do that, we need to fill the green gap in the spectrum, which is no easy task,' says electrical and computer engineering professor Can Bayram.

student wearing a VR headset with a display screen in the background. No photo credit available

Extended reality applications for primary care: The future of medical care

Jan 19, 2024 12:30 pm

'Unfortunately...it is often difficult to discern which XR clinical applications have scientifically tested benefits. Our systematic review examined which applications of (extended reality) technology have been shown to be clinically beneficial.'

inner layers of the VR glove beside detail photo of haptic sensors in fingertips

Advanced VR glove brings high-res touch to the digital world

Jan 12, 2024 9:00 am

'There are existing systems that have shown off high-resolution virtual touch before, but they cost tens of thousands of dollars... We’ve prototyped a new system with 160 actuators per hand for around $200, and it fits entirely on the wrist.'

graphic: Aging and Alzheimer's affect nano-particle delivery across blood-brain barrier

Nanoparticle transport across the blood-brain barrier increases with Alzheimer’s, age

Jan 2, 2024 11:30 am

Interdisciplinary researchers at Illinois have developed nanoparticles that are able to slip past 'leaky' blood-brain barriers and attach to selected areas of the brain to mediate brain inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease.

CI MED MD/PhD student Al Smith demonstrates his Kinematic Navigation prototype

Navigating neurosurgical emergencies: Student's new device prototype enters the world stage

Jan 3, 2024 1:30 pm

A new neurosurgical navigation system under development at Carle Illinois College of Medicine and Carle Health’s Neuroscience Institute is catching the attention of international experts, including those from regions where neurosurgical resources are scarce.

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