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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

It's no TRiC! MCB researchers keep pushing our understanding of cellular biology every day. 👨‍🔬🔬🧬 Read below to understand how Brian Freeman's lab found a connection that could build the foundation towards better treatments for everything from cancer to Down Syndrome: lnkd.in/gFzj6RMv (link in bio)

Research News: Freeman Lab uncovers connection between TRiC and RNA polymerase II

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Reposted by School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.)

Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute @illinoishealth.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Join us Thursday, Sept. 3 to meet the 18 undergraduate #Illini who spent the summer at Mayo Clinic. They will present their research and discuss their summer research experience. Light refreshments will be served. Register by Thursday, Aug. 27. Details: calendars.illinois.edu/detail/5589/...

Mayo Clinic and Illinois logos over a backdrop of headshots form the undergraduate cohort.
SURF | HERE | CRISP
Poster Session and Celebration
September 3, 3-5 p.m. Beckman Atrium

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

When in need of hope, look to science 💚 MCB and Illinois Cancer Center scientists discovered that when you decrease the protein "LARS," you're also making it harder for liver cancer cells to multiply. This could make future therapies more targeted and effective. (link in bio) #cancerresearch

Liver Cancer Breakthrough: Researchers Discover Promising Therapeutic Target over an image of three researchers

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

🚨Hot off the press from the Brian Freeman Lab🚨 MCB scientists depleted Type I Myosins from cells and found that this protein is essential for cell division and shaping how the nucleus is organized 🧫🔬🧪 Read more at the link in our bio 🔗 #ILLINOIS #myosin #biology #cellbiology

Research News: Nuclear Type I Myosins Actively Support Nucleolar and Nuclear Structure and Function

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Reposted by School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.)

Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute @illinoishealth.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

We have exciting new for Illinois Brain researchers who are interested in pursuing large-scale research proposals! IHSI is thrilled to announce Brain Health Center Proposal Planning Grants for Illinois researchers working in the broad area of brain health!

Brain Health Center Proposal Planning Grants

Advance your vision for a large-scale research initiative
2 faculty buyout awards
Up to $75,000 each
IHSI in-kind proposal support
Rolling review - early submission is encouraged
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Better understanding cancer, one paper at a time 🔬📝 Neha Chetlangia and Dr. Supriya Prasanth discovered that the ORCA protein plays an integral role in affecting when osteosarcoma cells replicate. (story at the link in bio) #cancerresearch #osteosarcoma🎗 #ILLINOIS #womeninstem

Neha Chetlangia with caption "New Cancer Research: ORCA protein impacts timely cell replication in polycomb bodies present in cancer"

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

One day, Pallob Barai was scrolling The Human Protein Atlas when something caught his eye: TARS1 was correlated with poor patient survival rates in multiple cancers. 🧪 Stumbling upon those data would lead to discovering a new mechanism that causes some cancers to become aggressive. (link in bio)

Pallob and Reean at the lab bench under a graphic saying "Chen lab uncovers a novel mechanism of STAT3 activation in cancer."

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Congratulations to all of our fantastic students who were recently honored at the 2025 School of MCB Biochemistry Awards!! 🧬🎉 In addition to our speakers we had students earn awards for research fellowships, travel grants, external fellowships, excellence in teaching and undergraduate service.

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Cancer is to hypoxia as MCB research is to a breath of fresh air 🔬 New research from KV Prasanth lab spearheaded by You Jin Song explores how nuclear speckles and the non-coding RNA "MALAT1" regulate genes when cells are deprived of oxygen, causing cancers to grow. 🧬 #MolBiol (story link in bio)

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

We are excited to announce the winners of our Life Inspiring art competition! We received so many stunning images across the School of MCB community 🧪🧬 #microsky #neuroskyence

Places and names of each life inspiring art piece.

"Forbidden Gummies: Clear, Colorful Critters and Cholera" by Jehdah Me'a'ofa Burton

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

To first understand #alzheimers, we have to understand the brain's circuitry. That's why MCB professor Boxuan Zhao and his collaborators mapped neurons in mouse brains by tagging them with molecular “barcodes.” 🧪 #neuroskyence 🔗 Story link in bio. ✍️: Liz Ahlberg Touchstone. 🖼️: Michael Vincent.

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

🚨New publication!🚨 A research group co-led by #ILLINOIS predict that the adaptable archaea Nitrosopumilus maritimus will play a key role in shaping ocean biodiversity as the climate changes. 🧪 🔗Story link in bio. #MicroSky #newresearch #archaea #microbiology #climatechange

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Hi Erik, could you add us to the science feed? 🧪 We're the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You can find all of our work here: mcb.illinois.edu. Thanks!

mcb.illinois.edu

Homepage | School of Molecular & Cellular Biology | Illinois

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

A picture is worth a thousand words or, in this case, billions of calculations. With help from @ncsaatillinois.bsky.social, Drs. Emad Tajkhorshid, Hale Şiir Hasdemir, and PhD candidates Yupeng Li and Carlos Cuellar revealed how membrane transport proteins in E. coli function. (Story link in bio)

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

In their new study, Dr. Hee Jung Chung's lab wanted to know when and why seizures occur in Alzheimer’s patients. “Can we stop it? If so, does that mitigate dementia risk and disease progression?” they asked. What they found: mcb.illinois.edu/news/2026-02... #Alzheimers #neuroscience #ILLINOIS

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

As artificial intelligence, machine learning, high-throughput genomics, and other data-driven technologies revolutionize our world, the demand for scientists who can navigate biology and data science has risen. We are excited to announce a new major: Molecular & Cellular Biology + Data Science.

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

How can you leverage data to identify, treat, and manage health and disease? How are large biological datasets transforming research and industry? How can scientists enable efficient and accurate management of massive amounts of technical and biological data?

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

The new study from Dr. Rachel Smith-Bolton, associate professor of cell and developmental biology, and graduate student Anish Bose offers new insights into how this vital process comes to a successful close in the fruit fly, an animal model often used in biomedical research.

From left: Rachel Smith-Bolton and Anish Bose

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Dr. Anirudh Acharya is investigating how a key protein may influence brain plasticity and energy regulation in Fragile X syndrome, a leading inherited cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder.

Man in white lab coat sits in front of microscope.

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

👏 A round of applause for Dr. Stephanie Ceman, professor of cell & developmental biology, chosen for a campus teaching award! 🏆 💙 🧡 #welldeserved news.illinois.edu/awards-honor...

photo of woman in blue shirt placed on top of orange and blue confetti

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Some notoriously difficult to treat infections may not be as resistant to antibiotics as has been thought, according to new research from #ILLINOIS using a microfluidic device that more closely duplicates the fluid flow found in the body than standard cultures. go.mcb.illinois.edu/flow

Two scientists hold a microfluidic device while sitting in front of a microscope and computer, backlit by a green light.

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Hernandez Garcia, a recent biochemistry PhD graduate and member of the Nair lab at Illinois, was part of the team of researchers who generated the first genome assembly of Yerba mate, a plant species and herbal tea native to South America. Their work was published in eLife. Congrats, all!

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

“A lot of young scientists feel like they have to choose one or the other—academia or industry—as if they’re completely separate worlds. But in reality, there’s a lot of crossover. The skills you develop in one can be incredibly valuable in the other,” Dr. Bae said.

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Her background in industry and academia has provided her with a valuable perspective on different career paths in biomedical research.

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Pallob is a recipient of the Tom and Cynthia Cycyota Research Fellowship and was recently featured in department's newsletter. Full Q&A about his journey to Illinois and his dreams for the future. go.mcb.illinois.edu/pallob

go.mcb.illinois.edu

Meet MCB: Pallob Barai, PhD student in cell & developmental biology | School of Molecular & Cellular Biology | Illinois

Pallob Barai, a Cell & Developmental Biology PhD student in

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Meet Pallob, a Cell & Dev. Biology PhD student who focuses on muscle regeneration and the role of a protein called threonyl-tRNA synthetase (TARS) in cancer. When not in the lab, you can find him running through the streets of Champaign-Urbana.

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

We are grateful to have so many inspiring, accomplished, and generous alumni. In a little over a month we will celebrate two of them: Michelle Barton and Keith Westcott. The biochemistry alumni have been selected for College of Liberal Arts & Sciences alumni awards! las.illinois.edu/news/2025-02...

Block I and congratulations to our alumni award winners

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

New research from the Ceman Lab will enhance scientists’ understanding of brain development and provide insight into the ways fear memory can plague individuals with autism, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. go.mcb.illinois.edu/memory

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

From his medical training in Nigeria to his current research on myonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), ‘Fola Adesanya is working to better understand how diseases work at a molecular level and the development of new potential treatments.

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

"We still have a long way to go, but I believe that unlocking the immune system is going to revolutionize our ability to treat the disease." Shout out to Erik Nelson and team @nelsonlab.bsky.social #inspiring

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is hiring a lecturer of physiology and human anatomy. Please share with potential applicants! The deadline to apply is March 7, 2025. go.mcb.illinois.edu/anatomy

Block I in orange and text announcing we're hiring

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

A truly heartening 'fireside chat' today with Dr. Anthony Fauci! “The future of science and medicine is bright even though we are in an arena of anti-science … The fact is the opportunities in science are really extraordinary.”

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

“Meet the Microbiologist" podcast recently featured our very own Brenda Wilson and Brian Ho. They spoke about the inspiration behind the book, Revenge of the Microbes, and offered insights on antimicrobial resistance and what is needed to improve the situation. asm.org/Podcasts/MTM... #AMR

asm.org

Revenge of the Microbes - With Brenda Wilson and Brian Ho

Brenda Wilson, Ph.D., and Brian Ho, Ph.D., authors of the 2nd edition of Revenge of the Microbes: How Bacterial Resistance is Undermining the Antibiotic Miracle, discuss the inspiration and motivation...

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

New research from the Kalsotra lab provides insight into maturation and specialization of the fetal liver and offers valuable information to the field of regenerative medicine. Their findings were published in @genesdev.bsky.social go.mcb.illinois.edu/liver Congrats, @kalsotra-lab.bsky.social!

Collage of photos featuring scientists in a biochemistry lab.

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

"Every experiment is a mystery waiting to be solved." Love this quote from Dr. Sayee Anakk, who explores liver metabolism in normal and diseased states. Get to know Dr. Anakk, who was recently featured in the department's newsletter: go.mcb.illinois.edu/anakk

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Marni Boppart, a CDB affiliate faculty member, has been awarded the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on young professionals at the outset of their independent research careers. go.mcb.illinois.edu/PECASE

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School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Illinois (U. of I.) @mcbillinois.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

New research from the lab of Joe Sanfilippo demonstrates that the amount of hydrogen peroxide required to inhibit bacterial growth is 50x less than previously thought, at amounts naturally present in the human body. go.mcb.illinois.edu/bacteria

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