The CCIL is a research institute located on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.
01/01/2026
SCIENCE SIMPLIFIED 🔶🔷
TOPIC: Precision Radiation
It's important to compensate for breathing and other motion when using radiation to treat cancer.
CCIL researcher Kim Selting and collaborators at Siteman Cancer Center are improving radiation targeting for cancer treatment by creating and testing software that corrects for motion.
Is there a cancer related term you want to know more about? Comment below!
12/29/2025
It's been a year of meaningful progress at the CCIL! Our researchers have pushed the boundaries of cancer discovery and expanded opportunities for the student scientists who will shape tomorrow's treatments.
We're looking forward to new opportunities in 2026! 🎉
The International Cancer Education Conference (ICEC) 2026 Abstract Year Program is a mentored experience that helps undergraduate students develop and present original projects at the ICEC in Fall 2026.
Check out the festive creations from students who attended the CCIL Winter Social ❄️
12/18/2025
The Ira R. Cohen Chair in Computer Science and Cancer Research has been created by a generous gift from Debra Cohen in memory of her late husband, Ira.
This chair will be held by a faculty member in the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, who is also a CCIL member.
“Ira would hope with this funding that the professor would have the impact on future students that his professors had on him during his time at the university.” -- Debra Cohen
A new study from researchers found that patients with ER-positive breast cancer who lived in disadvantaged neighborhoods showed higher levels of inflammation- and stress-related biomarkers compared with those in more affluent areas.
These findings can lead to new ways to address cancer disparities, from prevention to treatment.
CCIL researcher and Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute Director Stephen Boppart appeared on WCIA 3 News to discuss Margin Diagnostics - a comprehensive system that will drastically improve surgical outcomes for cancer tumor removal.
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CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Each year, millions of people across the world are diagnosed with cancer. It’s a phrase no one wants to hear, but several University of Illinois research…
12/12/2025
Fighting tumors with radiation while protecting nearby healthy tissue and organs can be tricky - but improvements are on the way. Researchers at are collaborating with scientists from Siteman Cancer Center to develop a method that makes the therapy more precise by placing tags on immune and cancer cells.
Pet owners will soon be able to utilize the new Animal Cancer Care Clinic at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, an expansion project that will allow the oncology team -- including several CCIL researchers -- to continue providing innovative cancer care to patients and owners. 🐕
New findings from researchers show that a small molecule in our DNA (snaR-A) could drive cancer growth.
“There seems to be crosstalk between snaR-A and splicing — another hotspot in cancer, as lots of cancer mutations converge on the same splicing machinery that snaR-A disrupts." -- CCIL researcher Kevin Van Bortle
This week's topic is immune checkpoint blockade, a type of immunotherapy.
CCIL researchers have developed a method that can help determine how effective immune checkpoint blockade therapy will be for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
Is there a cancer related term you want to know more about? Comment below!
12/05/2025
👏 Congratulations to CCIL Program Leader Erik Nelson on his recent investiture as the Keith W. and Sara M. Kelley Endowed Professor of Immunophysiology in the Department of Animal Sciences!
"It is a true honor to be recognized in this manner. It is especially special since Dr. Kelley defined the field of immunophysiology – the concept that immune cells are not isolated, nor do they only attack infection. As an endocrinologist, I appreciate this context where immune cells are both regulated and regulate the larger homeostatic ecosystem." -- Nelson
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The Cancer Center at Illinois unites world-class faculty who uncover fundamental knowledge, innovate new technologies, and enable cancer-free lives. Our interdisciplinary expertise in science and engineering, exceptional facilities, and novel educational experiences are changing the way we take on cancer.
What we do:
-Inspire groundbreaking cancer research and technological advances using unique campus strengths in science and engineering. Mobilize faculty, staff, and students across campus to focus attention on cancer.
-Catalyze large multidisciplinary projects—including program project grants, training programs, and centers.
-Innovate new educational programs for students, professionals, and the general public.
-Forge multidisciplinary ties on campus to enhance research and education.
-Partner with clinical centers and companies to drive translation and achieve economic impact while building alliances with external partners.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a history of world-changing breakthroughs. The MRI. The modern tree of life. The first graphical web browser.
NOW, WE'RE TAKING ON CANCER.
