Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute

11/10/2025

Your health is influenced by more than personal choices—your environment plays a key role. Food availability, safe sidewalks, and green spaces impact healthy habits. In this interactive virtual session, Department of Health and Kinesiology at Illinois researcher Alexia-Patrice Hammonds discusses how environments shape eating and activity patterns, offering practical strategies to improve your health and support others. Learn actionable steps to thrive and foster healthier environments for all.

All sessions are free to attend and are offered via Zoom on Wednesdays at noon.

Register for Zoom details: https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/community-seminar-series-autumn-health-picks-2025-registration

🔸🔶About the Community Seminar Series🔹🔷
Hosted by the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute and University of Illinois Extension, the Community Seminar Series mentors early career researchers to deliver evidence-based seminars on a variety of health topics.

11/10/2025

students, engage in research that makes a local impact with the Community-Academic Scholars program! This 10-week summer research program matches students with a local organization and an Illinois researcher to work on a project that impacts members of our community.

All majors are welcome; no prior research experience is necessary. Join us on Zoom Nov. 19, 5-6 pm to learn about the program and application process.

Details and registration: https://healthinstitute.illinois.edu/partnerships-translation/community-academic-partnerships/community-academic-scholars/student-scholars 

Can't make it? Register for the info session to receive a link to the recording and notification when the application period opens.

11/03/2025

As parents across Illinois wonder what to do with ALL THAT CANDY, Department of Health and Kinesiology at Illinois researcher Prafulla Caringula is diving into the critical connections between oral care and overall health, showing you why what happens in your mouth matters for your entire body, and how simple steps can make a big difference.

All sessions free to attend and are offered via Zoom on Wednesdays at noon. Register for Zoom details: https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/community-seminar-series-autumn-health-picks-2025-registration

🔸🔶About the Community Seminar Series🔹🔷
Hosted by the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute and University of Illinois Extension, the Community Seminar Series mentors early career researchers to deliver evidence-based seminars on a variety of health topics.

The last topic of the semester for NEXT WEDNESDAY is how environment shapes your health.

10/22/2025

When most people think of protein, they thinking of athletes and weight lifters, but protein has benefits for everyone. More than just building muscle—protein promotes fullness, supports immune health, and prevents age-related muscle loss across all ages.

TODAY at NOON, Carle Illinois College of Medicine student Nikita Chigullapally will lead an interactive seminar on Zoom to help people determine their protein needs, identify the best sources of protein, and find ways to incorporate healthy sources of protein in their diet. Whether you are looking to improve your wellness or gain practical tools to better support patients and clients, this session has something for everyone.

All sessions free to attend and are offered via Zoom on Wednesdays at noon. Register for Zoom details: https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/community-seminar-series-autumn-health-picks-2025-registration

🔸🔶About the Community Seminar Series🔹🔷
Hosted by the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute and , the Community Seminar Series mentors early career researchers to deliver evidence-based seminars on a variety of health topics.

This semester, remaining topics include the perceptions of digital health technology, the connections between oral care and overall health, and how environment shapes your health

09/22/2025

Interested in summer research experiences at Mayo Clinic?

DYK University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduates have unique pathways to research Mayo Clinic?

Join the Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance for an information session Oct. 2, 6-7 p.m., over Zoom.

Programs discussed include:
🔹 The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURF) 🔹
🔸 The Health Equity Research Experience (HERE) 🔸
🔹 Clinical Research Internship Study Program (CRISP) 🔹

Attendees will learn more about the programs, hear from previous participants, AND learn about the unique opportunities open only to undergrads. Pre-selection applications are due November 3!

Register for the info session: https://illinois.zoom.us/meeting/register/iF8N-TQJRS6EoFacBxyJuQ #/registration

Learn more about these opportunities: https://mayoillinois.org/education-training

The Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance The Alliance is administered by the University of Illinois Health Sciences Institute and led in collaboration with the The Grainger College of Engineering, National Center for Supercomputing Applications - NCSA, and Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine.

Please share with your networks!
Undergraduate Research at Illinois Michael L. Jeffries, Sr. Center for Access and Academic Success UI Department of Bioengineering University of Illinois School of Molecular & Cellular Biology School of Information Sciences at Illinois Siebel School of Computing and Data Science Illinois ECE Department of Health and Kinesiology at Illinois Health Professions Advising at Illinois-The Career Center University of Illinois Psychology Department University of Illinois College of ACES

09/03/2025

Introducing ' 2025-2026 emerging research leaders!

Representing 15 units in 8 colleges and 6 of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's 10 campuswide interdisciplinary research institutes, our 15 newest academy members will engage in reflection and personal assessment, clarify their vision and goals, and develop five-year action plans to make their visions a reality.

Read more about the cohort selection process and what academy members can expect in the coming year:
https://healthinstitute.illinois.edu/news-events/news/introducing-the-2025-26-emerging-research-leaders

🎉 🎉 Then, join us in congratulating:

🔸 Hannah Holscher, University of Illinois Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

🔹 Bruno Pereira Nunes, Department of Health and Kinesiology at Illinois

🔸Yuhei Inoue, Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at Illinois

🔹Angela Di Fulvio, Nuclear, Plasma & Radiological Engineering at Illinois

🔸Gregory Underhill, UI Department of Bioengineering

🔹Pinshane Huang, Materials Science & Engineering at Illinois Grainger Engineering

🔸Asma Hatoum, University of Illinois School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

🔹Deanna Hence, Illinois Department of Climate, Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

🔸Jonathan Dunn, University of Illinois Department of Linguistics

🔹Leona Yi-Fan Su, Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising in the College of Media at Illinois

🔸Sepideh Sadaghiani, University of Illinois Psychology Department

🔹Wei Wei, Illinois Department of Mathematics

🔸Chris Stone, Prairie Research Institute

🔹Rachel Garthe, University of Illinois School of Social Work

🔸Megan Mahoney, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

Introducing the 2025-26 Emerging Research Leaders

08/28/2025

Meet the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduates who spent their summer at Mayo Clinic as part of the 2025 Health Equity Research Experience (HERE), Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), and the Clinical Research Internship Study Program (CRISP).

For 10 weeks this summer, 15 Illinois undergrads worked alongside Mayo Clinic faculty. Students interested in these programs are invited to a poster session and celebration at on Sept. 4.

Be sure to Register today so that we can fully accommodate each guest! https://redcap.healthinstitute.illinois.edu/surveys/?s=RJC7LCEM7WX4E3XD

08/15/2025

Please join us Sept. 4 to help us celebrate the 🔸14 outstanding students🔹 who spent their summer working with world-class Mayo Clinic faculty to make an impact on health equity and innovation.

From AI-driven health engineering, public health, and neuroimaging to genomics, clinical trial participation, and immunology, their projects span disciplines and promise impact.

You can learn more about the scholars and their projects at a poster session and celebration on Thursday, Sept. 4, from 3-5 p.m. in the atrium of the Beckman Institute at Illinois. Light refreshments will be served.

Please register by Thursday, Aug. 28, to help us fully accommodate each guest during the event: https://redcap.healthinstitute.illinois.edu/surveys/?s=RJC7LCEM7WX4E3XD

👏 Join us in congratulating these scholars on a summer well-spent!

🔸 Cindy Chen (neural engineering)

🔹 Devina Joshi (MCB)

🔸 Sarah Guo (UI Department of Bioengineering)

🔹Roselyn H. (Human Development & Family Studies)

🔸 Sharon Ignatius Newton (bioengineering)

🔹 Rayyan Iqbal (Chemistry at Illinois)

🔸 Roxana Jafari Haddadian (neural engineering)

🔹 Lucas Jimenez (School of Integrative Biology and Chemistry)

🔸 Manasi Kulkarni (bioengineering)

🔹 Rose Olvera (neuroscience)

🔸 Ranjani Ramesh (Siebel School of Computing and Data Science)

🔹 Darian Tabrizi (bioengineering)

🔸 Sophia W. (bioengineering)

🔹 Pablo Zamora (integrative biology and University of Illinois Psychology Department)

We’re so proud of this talented group and can’t wait to see the impact of their work at Mayo Clinic and beyond. 🌟

07/30/2025

Congratulations to Sophia Stierwalt on an EXCELLENT poster presentation last week at the Illinois Summer Research Program Alliance (ISPRA) 2025 STEM Career Exploration and Symposium last week!

Sophia presented on her work with Driven to Reach Excellence & Academic Achievement for Males (DREAAM), to design and assess a series of culturally-rich STEM experiences for DREAAM students in grades 3-5.

Check out DREAAM Founding Director Tracy D. Dace at the event here, too!

We are just ONE WEEK away from the Community-Academic Scholars Poster Session, where you can come and learn more about this and the other community-engaged research projects our scholars worked on this summer!

RSVP by July 31: https://redcap.healthinstitute.illinois.edu/surveys/?s=XLAXMR7M7MFLT9L9

07/24/2025

Congratulations to Talayah Walker and Leah Decatus-Haddad, for doing an absolutely fabulous job presenting their summer research yesterday. Both were extremely informed about their projects and dynamic speakers!

We are so excited to see the rest of our scholars present their research! Join us August 6 at 10 a.m. to see the incredible work this cohort has been doing all summer.

RSVP: https://redcap.healthinstitute.illinois.edu/surveys/?s=XLAXMR7M7MFLT9L9

07/24/2025

Global crises, including complex emergencies, pandemics, and climate-related disasters, are increasing in frequency and intensity—and disproportionately affecting mental health in vulnerable communities across the globe.

Drawing from her experience living in and working with disaster-affected communities, University of Illinois School of Social Work Professor Tara Powell collaborates with local populations and global humanitarian organizations like Americares and Save the Children to develop community-based, culturally responsive interventions that address both individual needs and broader structural factors to support resilience in disaster-affected communities.

Learn more about Prof. Powell's commitment to developing real-world solutions, and how her work is shaping global mental health programs and policies. https://healthinstitute.illinois.edu/news-events/news/ihsi-affiliate-spotlight-tara-powell

07/22/2025

As our Community-Academic Scholars prepare for their August 6 poster session, we want to acknowledge the support of the late Edward Heiken, a 1972 economics alum and long-time .

Many thanks to the Edward Heiken Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute Fund for supporting four students whose research projects are advancing research and translation in brain health:

Marina Justo has been working with College of Applied Health Sciences at Illinois Prof. Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo and Champaign-Urbana Public Health District on an assessment of self-guided mindfulness-based interventions to reduce postpartum pain and depression among Latina mothers

Olivia Ross has been working with Education at Illinois Special Education Prof. Emily Tarconish and University of Illinois Extension on the development of training and resources about accessibility and neurodiversity

Yuheng Wang (Leo) has been working with Department of Health and Kinesiology at Illinois Prof. Wendy Rogers and ClarkLindsey Life Plan Community on an evaluation of assistive robots to address the needs of older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment/early Alzheimer’s Disease, and/or mobility impairments

Maya W. has been working with College of Fine & Applied Arts at Illinois Prof. Catalina Alzate and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District's "GREAT Start Home Visiting Program" to conduct body mapping sessions with home visitors and doulas to explore the impacts of their work on their physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being

Read more about how the Heiken fund is making a significant impact on the advancement of cognitive and brain health research: https://healthinstitute.illinois.edu/news-events/news/donor-gift-supports-six-illinois-students-committed-to-brain-health