This Week in Illinois Research
Basic research, big impact
In the 1940s, Rosalyn Yalow completed her PhD in Physics at the University of Illinois. Her work to develop radioimmunoassays led to innovative treatments for cancer, and ultimately, the Nobel Prize. During her time at Illinois, Dr. Yalow was a member of the Nuclear Physics Group, a highly successful research team that has partnered with the federal government, national labs, and industry—since the 1930s!—to develop technology that makes life better for all Americans.
Unfortunately, group leaders recently learned that NSF will reduce their annual funding of $15M to $1M, disrupting mission-critical, basic research that ensures our national security and prosperity and advances understanding in areas of emerging technology like quantum, AI, advanced materials, and nuclear power. The cuts mean that five full-time, technical positions will be eliminated, dozens of students will lose research opportunities, and the group will be forced to pull back from projects at Brookhaven, CERN, Los Alamos, and the Institut Laue-Langevin—jeopardizing important, ongoing experiments, collaborations, and decades of scientific progress and financial investment.
Basic scientific discovery has made our nation strong, for generations. As Congress works through FY26 budget allocations for our nation's science agencies, it is more important than ever that we share examples of research impact with our congressional delegation. Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office if you would like to tell your story.
Sincerely,
Susan
Featured Stories
Cultivating a culture of safety across campus is goal of new campaign
New campaign to highlight best safety practices, resources, and more
Stephanie Hess still remembers a time when personal protective equipment saved her from possible burns on her hands and arms.
Jen Tompkins to lead revamped Office of Animal Research Compliance
Jen Tompkins has been named the new Director of the Office of Animal Research Compliance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is starting in her new role on January 27, 2025.
New Office of Research Security to help Illinois researchers meet obligations
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is launching a new office to meet federal research security mandates and to help campus researchers navigate complex and evolving research security regulations.
Around Campus
Director of NCSA, Bill Gropp, is retiring
After eight years as director of NCSA and nearly two decades of researching and teaching at Illinois, Bill Gropp is retiring. Congratulations on an incredibly impactful career!
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Distinguished Award for Excellence in Public Engagement
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Distinguished Award for Excellence in Public Engagement, including the IGB Communications and Outreach team, Antoinette Burton, and others.
How racially segregated areas can negatively shape health outcomes
A new study from Mariela Fernandez and Miki Sato explores how racially segregated areas can…
Capitol News Illinois recently featured the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park
Capitol News Illinois recently featured the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago and ongoing efforts to attract industry leaders from around the world.
Startups founded by academics averaged market applicability 12 percent greater than others
According to a study by Shinjinee Chattopadhyay and Shinjae Won, startups founded by academics averaged market applicability …
New technology that uses MRI machines to image metabolic activity in the brain
A team led by Zhi-Pei Liang has developed a new technology that uses MRI machines to image metabolic activity in the brain, which is important in understanding brain function and revealing possible diseases.
National Landscape
Hundreds of business leaders from around the country called on President Trump
In an open letter, hundreds of business leaders from around the country called on President Trump and Congress to reverse funding cuts to universities.
A judge is ordering the NIH to restore hundreds of grants
A judge is ordering the NIH to restore hundreds of grants that it abruptly canceled earlier this year, saying that the "terminations were rooted in discrimination against racial, sexual, and gender minority groups."
A brain implant has allowed an ALS patient to speak clearly—and even sing
A brain implant has allowed an ALS patient to speak clearly—and even sing—as the device translates the participant’s brain activity into words almost instantly.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle pressed NIH director
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle pressed NIH director Jay Bhattacharya last week about the White House’s proposed 40% cut to the agency’s 2026 budget.
Recommendations on potential replacements for the current facilities and administrative reimbursement model
The Joint Associations Group on Indirect Costs is releasing recommendations on potential replacements for the current facilities and administrative reimbursement model. Register for the town hall here.
The White House has issued a new Executive Order on "Restoring Gold Standard Science."
The White House has issued a new Executive Order on "Restoring Gold Standard Science." Science notes concerns that the order "gives a political appointee the power to decide when those findings need to be 'corrected' and to take disciplinary action against those seen as the perpetrators of misinformation."