Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute

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

07/18/2025

Sola Gratia Farm is joining IHSI to celebrate community-engaged research!

On Wednesday, August 6, from 10 - 11:30 a.m., at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church--Urbana Illinois, The Community-Academic Scholars will present the work they have been doing with community and academic research mentors this summer.

Campus and community members are invited to this free, open-house style event.

We hope you can join us to learn more about how community members are working with University of Illinois students and researchers to make a positive impact in our community.

Please register by Thursday, July 31 to help us fully accommodate all attendees: https://redcap.healthinstitute.illinois.edu/surveys/?s=XLAXMR7M7MFLT9L9

More on the research projects and partners:

Community-Academic Scholar Olivia Ross has been working with Department of Special Education at the University of Illinois Prof. Emily Tarconish and University of Illinois Extension on "Advancing Equity: Accessibility and Neurodiversity Training for Non-Profits"

Community-Academic Scholar Savannah Blanden has been working with University of Illinois School of Social Work, Prof. Tuyet Mai Hoang, Ph.D., and Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice on "Birth Justice in Action: Supporting Doulas and Midwives to Reduce Maternal Health Disparities"

Community-Academic Scholar Sophia Stierwalt has been working with Lara Hebert, Co-Director of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Illinois Center for Family and Community Engaged STEAMM and Precious Kelly, Driven to Reach Excellence and Academic Achievement for Males (DREAAM) Assistant Director of Programs and Services in Rantoul on "Building Confidence and Connection through Culturally-Rich STEM Experiences"

Community-Academic Scholar Emma Oyola has been working with Carolyn Randolph-Kato, Director of Engaged Research of the College of Fine & Applied Arts at Illinois, CU BIPOC Artist Collective, and the City of Urbana Arts and Culture Program on "Creative Equity: Documenting the Social Impact of the CU BIPOC Artist Collective"

Community-Academic Scholar Leah Decatus-Haddad has been working with University of Illinois School of Social Work Prof. Karen Tabb Dina, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, Promise Healthcare Frances Nelson Health Center, and Carle Health on the "Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program"

Community-Academic Scholar Michelle Agyemang has been working with University of Illinois Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition Prof. Manabu Nakamura and Avicenna Community Health Center on "EMPOWERing Health: Integrating a Digital Dietary Program into Community Healthcare"

Community-Academic Scholars Farris Sweid and Talayah Walker have been working with University of Illinois College of ACES Director of Applied Health Professions Margarita Teran-Garcia and Avicenna Community Health Center on "HEALER Training: Expanding Cultural Humility in Community Clinics"

Community-Academic Scholar Dhanvi Puttur has been working with College of Fine & Applied Arts at Illinois Prof. Catalina Alzate and Urbana Acupuncture, llc on "Healing Together: Visualizing the Power of Community in Holistic Healing"

Community-Academic Scholar Maya W. has been working with Graphic Design Prof. Catalina Alzate and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District's "GREAT Start Home Visiting Program on Mapping Care: Visualizing Experiences of Care by Home Visitors and Birth Workers through Participatory Body Mapping"

Community-Academic Scholar Marina Justo has been working with College of Applied Health Sciences at Illinois Prof. Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo and Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department on "Mending Minds and Bodies: Addressing Postpartum Challenges for Latina Mothers"

Community-Academic Scholars Shreya Rana and Yuheng Wang (Leo) have been working with Department of Health and Kinesiology at Illinois Prof. Wendy Rogers and ClarkLindsey Life Plan Community on "Smart Support Systems: Evaluating Robotic Assistance for Aging Populations"

Community-Academic Scholar Sarah Blyskal has been working with Health & Kinesiology Prof. Minakshi Raj (Mina) and ClarkLindsey Village “Spicing Up Healthcare: Enhancing Cultural Inclusivity in Patient Meals”

Community-Academic Scholars Rena Amarteifio and Lara Terpetschnig have been working with Health and Kinesiology Prof. Minakshi Raj (Mina) and Sola Gratia Farm and Healthy Champaign County on "Voices of Experience: Understanding Food Insecurity Among Older Adults in Champaign County"

Community Academic Scholars Asal Amiri and Joel Diaz have been working with University of Illinois Department of Linguistics Prof. Anna Mendoza and Champaign-Urbana's The Refugee Center on “Voices of Resilience: Exploring English Literacy Practices Among Afghan Women in Urbana-Champaign.”

07/10/2025

Community-Academic Scholar Emma Oyola is getting more familiar with the Urbana Community today! Emma is working with Carolyn Randolph-Kato, Director of Engaged Research of the College of Fine & Applied Arts at Illinois, and the Urbana Arts and Culture Program to use digital storytelling to document the social impact of the CU BIPOC Artist Collective and explore how the Collective fosters belonging, social cohesion, and economic vibrancy in Urbana-Champaign.

07/10/2025

Making science more innovative and trustworthy is an important aim of School of Information Sciences at Illinois Professor Halil Kilocoglu.

With a focus on natural language processing, artificial intelligence & machine learning, and knowledge representation for biomedical applications, Prof. Kilicoglu's lab is developing automated methods to assess the rigor, transparency, and integrity of biomedical research publications.

In addition to affiliations with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications - NCSA, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Beckman Institute at Illinois, and the Personalized Nutrition Initiative, Professor Kilicoglu recently joined the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI) affiliate program.

Meet IHSI Affiliate Halil Kilicoglu: https://healthinstitute.illinois.edu/news-events/news/ihsi-affiliate-spotlight-halil-kilicoglu