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Illinois IGB

Governor Recognizes IGB for 10 Years of Scientific Contribution to Illinois

March 28, 2017

Governor Bruce Rauner officially recognized the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) for celebrating ten years of genomic research addressing major societal issues in the areas of agriculture, environmental conservation, health, and technology. The IGB houses a broad portfolio of interdisciplinary life sciences research on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus.

“We are proud to recognize the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology for ten years of cutting-edge scientific research,” said Governor Rauner. “Carl Woese changed human understanding of biology, and this institute is using the new science of genomics to push the boundaries of our understanding of critical issues facing society.”

The IGB was dedicated on March 29, 2007 with special funding from the Illinois Legislature, and operates under the mission of advancing life sciences research and stimulating bioeconomic development in the state of Illinois. Members of the IGB work collaboratively, utilizing a team-based framework that leverages expertise from many distinct disciplines in science and engineering and unites fundamental and applied research approaches to tackle grand scientific challenges.

Bringing in over $275 million in funding since inception, the Institute has established critical relationships with major industry partners such as Abbott, BP, Dow AgroSciences, Eli Lilly and Company, IBM Systems, Intel Corp., and ZEISS Microscopy, as well as federal agencies including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and United States Department of Agriculture.

As part of its commitment to advancing public engagement with scientific progress, the IGB also hosts a broad variety of outreach and education programs to promote awareness of the field of genomic research. Opportunities are offered for a variety of groups and age levels and include structured workshops for judges, CEOs, physicians and other professionals, summer camps for children, travelling art exhibits, and museum learning stations.

“By uniting the genomic resources and expertise on campus with the newest technologies and approaches, we are able to address grand challenges in science,” said IGB Director and Swanlund Chair in Entomology Gene Robinson. “We are honored to have lead in the application of genomics to life science research in the state of Illinois for the past ten years and are strongly committed to continuing to do so for the next ten years, and beyond.”

A proclamation issued by the Governor officially records March 29, 2017 as the 10th anniversary of the Institute and recognizes its societal, scientific, and scholarly contributions made to research within the state of Illinois. Full proclamation text is below.

Proclamation, presented this 29th day of March 2017

Whereas, the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois was established in 2003 and dedicated on March 29, 2007, to advance life science research and stimulate bioeconomic development in Illinois by investing in the growing field of genomics; and,

Whereas, the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology is a state-of-the-art research facility whose structure was designed to promote communication and collaboration among its members; and,

Whereas, membership to the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology has grown to comprise a transdisciplinary contingent of more than 130 faculty members and more than 700 other research staff and students, stemming from more than 30 different academic departments; and,

Whereas, in 2017, the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois celebrates its 10th anniversary of path-breaking genomic research to address societal challenges in the areas of agriculture, environmental conservation, health, and technology; and,

Whereas, the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology is committed not only to the use of science to positively impact society, but to the larger goal of promoting an open dialogue between science and society;

Therefore, I, Bruce Rauner, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby recognize the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology for the societal, scientific, and scholarly contributions it has made to genomic research within the State of Illinois.


March 28, 2017
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