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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Tech + Society

Tech + Society

New technologies launched the genomic era. Now, progress in genomic research depends on further innovations in the tools that allow us to probe, manipulate, and analyze biological molecules. Whether focused on software or hardware, biomaterials or microfluidics, DNA editors or molecular motors, our technological research pushes the boundaries of the physically possible and paves the way for future discovery.

Featured Stories

Illinois professor Ying Diao led a multi-institutional study that positions synthetic polymers as a potential alternative to expensive, unsustainable minerals for use in semiconductors and other electronic devices. Photo by Brian Stauffer
Research
Study finds that tweaked synthetic polymers boost conductivity
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A diagram from the lab's published paper in JACS.
Research
DNA Nanostructures Get a Major Upgrade
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Photorespiration bypass soybean field trials at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Energy Farm / Katherine Meacham-Hensold
Research
Shortcutting photorespiration: A pathway to improve tomorrow’s crops
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Erik Nelson (left) and Postdoctoral researcher Natalia Krawczynska
Research
Researchers Aim to Disrupt Breast Cancer Line of Communication and Prevent Spread
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In human breast cancer cells treated with the preclinical drug ErSO (shown), or with doxorubicin, the cellular protein FGD3 causes another protein, calreticulin (in red on the right), to display on the cancer cell surface, attracting and activating immune cells. Micrographs by Junyao Zhu
Research
Cellular protein FGD3 boosts breast cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy
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Erik Sacks, right, and his team trim miscanthus starts at the Illinois Energy Farm. Credit: CABBI
Research
The Coming of Age of Miscanthus
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