Closing Gaps in Health and Care

A nurse and a doctor hand a face mask to a child, outside.

UIC medical students, doctors form Mobile Migrant Health Team

Aug 7, 2023 2:15 pm

Since the first week of May, more than 3,000 migrants have received medical attention from the UIC student-driven group, which has volunteered at nearly a dozen Chicago police stations where migrants are being sheltered.

Male medical student with Peoria in backdrop

Program helps fill need for rural doctors

Sep 1, 2022 3:30 pm

Programs at University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford and University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria are part of the Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program, to help fill the need for rural doctors in Illinois.

Bringing more healthcare services to Southwest Side

Sep 28, 2021 3:45 pm

With approval from the Board of Trustees to purchase a recently closed clinical building at 5525 S. Pulaski Road, the UIC and UI Health will move forward with plans to increase access to comprehensive health care in Chicago’s Gage Park and West Elsdon communities.

a diagram showing the process by which the peptide exits the fruit flies

Compound found in fruit flies could lead to new antibiotics

Jun 14, 2023 11:15 am

UIC scientists have found that a peptide from fruit flies could lead to new antibiotics. The natural peptide, called drosocin, protects the insect from bacterial infections by binding to ribosomes in bacteria.

Rockford professors on cutting edge with Parkinson's research

Mar 8, 2022 9:45 am

Researchers at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford have discovered what they describe as promising results in their search for a treatment to stop nerve cell degeneration that occurs in disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and hereditary spastic paraplegia.

UIC researcher Kuei Yuan Tseng poses for a portrait at his laboratory

UIC researcher examines effects of cannabis on adolescent brains

Mar 27, 2023 10:30 am

Professor Kuei Tseng is one of the country’s foremost neuroscientists, and his lab rats are aiding our understanding of the long-term effects of cannabis on the teen brain.

Federal center for farmworker health and safety to open in Chicago

Sep 13, 2022 10:30 am

UIC will receive $6 million from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to establish the newest Agricultural Safety and Health Center in the U.S. The new center, called the Great Lakes Center for Farmworker Health and Wellbeing, will be housed at the UIC School of Public Health.

New treatment for pulmonary fibrosis using sugar-coated nanoparticles

Apr 7, 2022 10:15 am

UIC scientists have developed a treatment for pulmonary fibrosis by using nanoparticles coated in mannose — a type of sugar — to stop a population of lung cells called macrophages that contribute to lung tissue scarring.

Child Protection Training Academy

Aug 19, 2019 2:00 pm

The Child Protection Training Academy at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) trains case workers and investigators to better spot and report kids who might be in danger. More...

Stockton Mayer, department of medicine, infectious diseases

Healthcare leaders protect homeless during pandemic

Sep 9, 2020 3:15 pm

Chicago nonprofits, shelters, city and healthcare leaders, including UI Health, have come together to address the problems those experiencing homelessness are facing while protecting public health.

Gloved hand of researcher holds two dark brown mice

Newsweek: How scientists successfully reversed Alzheimer's in mice

Aug 24, 2022 2:30 pm

Lead author Professor Orly Lazarov of the University of Illinois Chicago says, "Taken together, our results suggest augmenting neurogenesis may be of therapeutic value."

Animated sad Black woman with briefcase walks into kitchen where sad Black man is sitting looking at a job site on computer

Helping prevent postpartum depression in Black women

Jun 2, 2021 12:45 pm

The Sunnyside for Moms app created by researchers at University of Illinois Chicago aims to help pregnant women of color who are shoing signs of depression but haven't reached the point of clinical depression.

Beckman researchers link regular, moderate yoga to lower stress, better memory

May 22, 2023 10:30 am

Participants who practiced medium-intensity yoga for 50 minutes, three times per week “had significantly lower stress and anxiety, and higher accuracy on working memory tasks.”

A smiling young man with a smiling toddler on his shoulders

New Family First Act Summit gathers state agencies, helpful partners

Nov 4, 2022 10:45 am

“The Family First Act allows Illinois to invest more resources into addiction treatment, mental health services and parental skill building that will help strengthen families so children can remain safely at home,” said Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Second-year medical students Nicholas Nguyen (Co-Director of Avicenna Lifestyle) and Claire Lee (Co-Director of Avicenna Lifestyle), senior Haihley Connors (Co-Director of Avicenna Outreach), second-year medical student Anisha Mittal (Co-Director of Avicenna Outreach) and sophomore Isela Villaseñor (Avicenna Interpretations volunteer) from the Lifestyle, Outreach, and Interpretations team volunteer at the Campana de Salud Health Fair, promoting Avicenna, educating about healthy nutrition, and offering blood pressure screenings.

Carle Illinois students earn grant to improve local healthcare access

Dec 12, 2022 8:15 am

Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI MED) students received the Family Medicine Cares USA existing clinic award grant from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

New position helps sharpen UI Health's focus on community health equity

Jan 28, 2022 9:45 am

Rani Morrison, chief diversity and community health equity officer at UI Health recently spoke to Healthcare Innovation about patient engagement and data gathering efforts under way.

a computer model of protein PSD-95, an early biomarker of Alzheimer's disease

UIUC team identifies earliest biomarker yet of Alzheimer's disease

Apr 1, 2024 1:00 pm

A team at UIUC's School of Molecular and Cellular Biology has identified a specific protein, PSD-95, that is linked to seizures seen in the early phases of Alzheimer’s disease. PSD-95 is the earliest biomarker yet discovered that's associated with the onset of Alzheimer's.

Collaboration brings innovative healthcare to the South Side

Feb 14, 2022 3:15 pm

Faculty and students at the UIC College of Nursing have partnered with the Southside Health Advocacy Resource Partnership to improve the health of South Side Chicago communities.

App developed to detect perinatal depression in mothers of color

Feb 23, 2022 9:30 am

An innovative app from UIC combines cutting edge technology, enhanced mental health outreach efforts and new opportunities to identify blood biomarkers for depression in an effort to help mothers of color from low-income communities identify, manage and treat perinatal depression at no cost.

Awards recognize UIUC excellence in public engagement

Jul 10, 2020 8:45 am

The Campus Awards for Excellence in Public Engagement spotlight faculty members and staff at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who have consistently applied their knowledge and expertise to issues for the public good.

exterior of the UI Health Specialty Care Building

Specialty Care Building at UI Health opening up access to care, jobs

Sep 20, 2022 1:00 pm

The newest clinical building on the University of Illinois Chicago’s health sciences campus will open to patients Sept. 26. Leadership from UIC and its health system, UI Health, marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting event outside the $194 million building Sept. 14.

Portrait of Hana Hinkle, College of Medicine Rockford director, on rural background

Rural health education center in Illinois gains $6.5M

Oct 10, 2022 8:00 am

The National Center for Rural Health Professions at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine Rockford will receive nearly $6.5 million over the next five years to fund the Illinois Area Health Education Centers Network program.

UICOM students volunteer time, effort to meet migrants' health needs

Jun 26, 2023 10:15 am

The volunteers have been making the rounds across Chicago, screening asylum-seeking migrants at temporary housing locations for public health concerns, and also providing immediate and preventative medical care.

CRISPR-Cas13 targets proteins causing ALS, Huntington's disease in mice

Jan 21, 2022 2:00 pm

A new study by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers used a targeted CRISPR technique in the central nervous systems of mice to turn off production of mutant proteins that can cause ALS and Huntington’s disease.

UIS child protection training academy simulation house

Preventing child fatalities and training the workforce

Feb 10, 2021 1:45 pm

The UIS Child Protection Training Academy has trained close to 1,000 DCFS child protection investigators over the last five years. The model has been expanded to Chicago and will soon be replicated at Southern Illinois University.

Benét DeBerry-Spence and Lez Trujillo Torres

Marketing study finds effects of racism on sickle cell patients, adopting new treatments

Feb 13, 2023 11:15 am

University of Illinois Chicago researchers in the College of Business Administration analyzed how racism and discrimination in health care affect the adoption of innovative medical technologies.

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived heart cells (cardiomyocytes) show the cardiac proteins actinin (red) and troponin T (green) as well as the nucleus (blue).

Mitochondrial proteins protect heart cells from chemotherapy damage

Jul 24, 2023 1:45 pm

University of Illinois Chicago researchers have found that when heart cells are put under stress from certain types of chemotherapy drugs, some enzymes move from the cell's mitochondria into its nucleus, where they are able to keep the cells alive.

Community map locates food assistance sites

Sep 29, 2020 3:00 pm

To help Illinois residents meet their basic food needs, University of Illinois Extension launched a new Illinois community food map that allows individuals to search by Illinois zip code for all food resources in that area.

UIC study: intermittent fasting effective for people with Type 2 diabetes

Nov 13, 2023 1:15 pm

Time-restricted eating, also known as intermittent fasting, can help people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight and control their blood sugar levels, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open from University of Illinois Chicago researchers.

Donation to help DPI develop more inclusive tech talent

Dec 15, 2020 1:15 pm

A $10 million gift will establish the Pritzker Tech Talent Labs at DPI, which will help Illinois workers better adapt to a challenging and quickly changing economy, and help thousands of women and people of color secure high-paying tech jobs.

Gov. Pritzker commits $500 million to IIN and DPI

Feb 12, 2020 2:45 pm

The State of Illinois is moving forward with $500 million in capital funding for the University of Illinois System’s Illinois Innovation Network and Discovery Partners Institute – a network of research and innovation hubs that will serve as a magnet for technology and talent. More...

Anna Lopez works on laptop and mobile phone at desk

Volunteers help Chicago residents without internet connect to COVID-19 vaccines

Mar 23, 2021 10:30 am

A UIC computer science student created a volunteer group on Facebook aimed at helping individuals from Chicago's Black and brown communities book vaccine appointments online.

a woman and a man walking down a farm's dirt road

FarmDocs program gives med students dose of agricultural life

May 8, 2023 10:00 am

Because rural life can be foreign to many first-year medical students who hail from urban areas, the program exposes students to topics like farm safety, delivery of health care in a rural setting, and specific stresses in the farming community.

two scientists observe their prototype device

Award-winning breakthrough tech senses viruses like smoke detector

Jun 5, 2023 3:00 pm

Two University of Illinois Chicago scientists have collaborated on a device that could detect SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV and other pathogens. The technology, called BioAerium, could dramatically improve disease surveillance for public health as well as research on how viral particles move through the air.

UIC leaders cut a red ribbon in front of building

UIC celebrates new 55th & Pulaski Health Collaborative

Jun 9, 2022 8:45 am

Leaders from the University of Illinois Chicago and the 55th & Pulaski Health Collaborative celebrated the opening of its comprehensive clinical care center in Chicago’s Gage Park and West Elsdon communities with a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 20.

UIC-developed compound could replace injections with eyedrops

Oct 16, 2023 10:15 am

A new paper in Cell Reports Medicine led by UIC researcher Yulia Komarova finds that a small-molecule inhibitor can reverse damage from age-related macular degeneration and promote regenerative and healing processes.

Illustration of molecule enzyme inhibitor

New enzyme inhibitor shows promise for treating cancers, autoimmune diseases

Oct 26, 2022 2:00 pm

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have found a small molecule capable of manipulating an immune process that plays an important role in cancers and autoimmune diseases.

female student in cap and gown on UIUC campus

Preparing students for medical careers through human nutrition program

Nov 17, 2021 9:15 am

Lauren Moy forged her path to the UIC College of Pharmacy by way of an undergraduate human nutrition concentration at the College of ACES at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

UIC partners with IDHFS for plan to transform healthcare

Nov 23, 2021 12:45 pm

The UIC School of Public Health is working with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services on a plan to tackle healthcare disparities across the state.

Are older women being over-screened for cervical cancer?

Dec 2, 2022 2:45 pm

A new UIC study suggests that women over the age of 65 may be undergoing unnecessary cervical cancer screenings and that more public health data is needed on the utilization of cervical cancer screening-associated services among older women to prevent potential harm and unnecessary costs.

Sarah Isaacs, the librarian of the Early Intervention Clearinghouse, and research information specialist Jill Tompkins show some of the tablet computers and Wi-Fi hotspots available for loan

Technology loan program helps families

Dec 18, 2020 9:30 am

A technology loan program provided by the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse at UIUC is helping many families across the state obtain the equipment they need to participate in live video – or telehealth – visits with their children’s therapists.

UIUC scientist developing drug delivery method with bioengineered microbes

Apr 7, 2022 10:15 am

An Illinois research team is developing a method of producing and delivering monoclonal antibody treatments for breast cancer through commensal microbes in the gut. If successful, this approach could increase accessibility and dramatically decrease the cost of monoclonal antibodies.

UIUC's Alma Mater wearing a doctor's labcoat and stethoscope

Carle Illinois College of Med students win top prize for ‘MenoPatch’ at Founders Forge

May 13, 2024 10:15 am

Physicians at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine earned top honors at the Midwest’s largest student-run startup conference for the “MenoPatch” — a skin patch that can personalize hormone replacement therapy for women experiencing menopause.

red, yellow and green flourescence microscopy image of lung

A dynamic duo of cells identified in lung blood vessels

Jun 15, 2022 10:30 am

Findings from a UIC study identifying two subtypes of blood vessel cells could lead to better treatments for lung infections, which can be dangerously exacerbated by unchecked inflammation.

Improving health and wellness in urban communities

Jul 28, 2021 2:45 pm

Peoria, Illinois-based OSF HealthCare is partnering with the University of Illinois Chicago to establish the Community Health Advocacy (CHA) applied research program to address health and wellness challenges in urban communities.

UIC’s Yury Polikanov, Nora Vázquez-Laslop and Alexander Mankin collaborated on testing the new antibiotic. (Photo: Dmitrii Travin)

UIC researchers find nearly resistance-impossible dual-action antibiotic

Aug 5, 2024 4:00 pm

University of Illinois Chicago researchers working with a class of drugs called macrolones found they can fight bacteria in two ways: by interfering with protein production or by corrupting DNA structure.

Grant to foster health equity among Chicago youth

Aug 25, 2021 9:45 am

A new grant will help reduce disparities in healthcare through a unique new training program led by Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s Ruby Mendenhall.

Man with handlebar mustache in office with test tubes

Researchers identify biomarker for depression

Jan 5, 2022 1:30 pm

Researchers led by Mark Rasenick, University of Illinois Chicago distinguished professor of physiology and biophysics and psychiatry, have identified a biomarker in human platelets that tracks the extent of depression.

The front of a UICOMP building in Peoria

Rural Student Physician Program aims to attract doctors to underserved areas

Feb 6, 2023 11:30 am

The decline of professionals practicing medicine in rural America isn't a new one, and rural hospitals around Illinois and the nation are eliminating services or closing altogether amid staffing and financial difficulties. The Rural Student Physician Program at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria is working to solve this problem.

three researchers in a laboratory setting

UIUC team finds soybean protein that blocks 'bad' LDL cholesterol production

Mar 6, 2023 12:30 pm

Consuming soy flour rich in the protein B-conglycinin has the potential to reduce LDL cholesterol levels and lower the risk of metabolic diseases, such as atherosclerosis and fatty liver disease.

blog navigation

blog posts