Research Centers & Institutes – With Illinois: The Campaign for Illinois
A microbiology research student runs tests on bacterial samples in the facilities at the Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory.

With Illinois Campaign

Research Centers & Institutes

Celebrating the impact of your generosity

The idea for our institutes started more than 35 years ago at the Beckman Institute, with a bold vision to bring researchers from different disciplines together and see what happens! Since then, we’ve set the standard for interdisciplinary research that addresses global challenges. Ten campus-wide institutes transcend college, school, and departmental boundaries to elevate ideas, drive discovery, and push the limits of our knowledge. We are enormously grateful for the leadership generosity that has taken shape through the With Illinois campaign. Without critical support from our visionary benefactors, it would have been difficult to dream big dreams, achieve transformative research advances, and build on that success to create a bright future for humanity!

Susan Martinis
SignatureSusan A Martinis
Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
Stephen G. Sligar Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Professor of Biochemistry

With Illinois Impact

As we mark the end of the With Illinois Campaign, Research Centers & Institutes has been transformed by donor support.

Alma248025041 Dollars Raised

Gift Box57986721 Largest Single Gift

Puzzle Piece1137 Gifts of $100 and Under

Puzzle Piece25 New Funds Supporting Scholarships, Fellowships, and Faculty Positions

EarthDonors from 43 States and 18 Countries

With Illinois Highlights

Your support has helped us continue to elevate the values that make Illinois distinctive: a sense of boundless aspiration, collaboration, and a global perspective.

Sepideh Sadaghiani (left) and Suhnyoung Jun (right) used functional MRI data to discover that some characteristics of the brain's infrastructure can be inherited from one generation to the next.

Changes in brain infrastructure are inherited, impact cognitive function

Researchers at the Beckman Institute used a large-scale functional MRI dataset to show that the ways in which neural connectivity across distant brain regions spontaneously reconfigures may be inherited from generation to generation. Their findings provide insight into why cognitive abilities differ between individuals. Read more.

William Dai, a rising junior studying molecular and cellular biology, received a 2022 Beckman Institute Undergraduate Fellowship.

Beckman Institute announces 2022 fellowship, award recipients

Through the generosity of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, Carle Health, and the families of Erik Haferkamp, Nadine Barrie Smith, and Thomas Huang, the Beckman Institute provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to pursue extraordinary, interdisciplinary research. Eleven students have been selected to receive 2022 Beckman Institute fellowships and awards. To learn more about the recipients and their work, read more.

Madhu Khanna

Madhu Khanna Named Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment

“I am delighted to lead iSEE to foster broad participation in interdisciplinary research in sustainability on campus to tackle some of the most wicked sustainability challenges that confront us in the 21st century as well as to offer opportunities for students to develop environmental leadership skills,” Khanna said. “We aim to position campus to play a transformative role in moving us all to a more sustainable future.” Read more.

Campus comes alive as students start their first day of classes for fall semester at Illinois.

2022 Prizes for Research in the Humanities Announced

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of HRI’s Prizes for Research in the Humanities! These prizes recognize outstanding humanities research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Read more.

Faculty prizes: Winner Elizabeth Massa Hoiem (Information Sciences); Honorable Mention Makoto Harris Takao (Music).

Graduate prizes: Winners Ana Lisa Eberline (Communication), Tiffany Octavia Harris (Education, Policy, Organization and Leadership/Gender and Women’s Studies); Honorable Mention Megan Cole (English)

With Illinois Moments

Take a look at a few of the moments that have shaped the culture and character of Research Centers & Institutes during the With Illinois Campaign.

University of Illinois biomolecular engineering students work at creating a gelatin conjugate that mimics brain tissue in order to culture brain cancer cells as she works with a team to battle glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer. The work was being done in a biomaterials lab at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.

University of Illinois biomolecular engineering students work at creating a gelatin conjugate that mimics brain tissue in order to culture brain cancer cells as she works with a team to battle glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer. The work was being done in a biomaterials lab at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.

Riders from the 2019 Illini 4000 team arrive at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Day 18 of their cross country ride from New York City to San Francisco.

Riders from the 2019 Illini 4000 team arrive at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Day 18 of their cross country ride from New York City to San Francisco. The riders are raising funds for cancer causes, but say just as important is their work documenting the American cancer experience through their Portraits Project. Many of the 17 riders said they joined to honor someone in their lives who have travelled their own cancer journey. The team arrived on the outskirts of town, made a pilgrimage to visit Alma, and then received a heroes welcome at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center. The ride had two experienced lead riders, joined by 15 rookie riders.

The I-FARM testbed will feature under-canopy autonomous robotic solutions for cover-crop planting

The I-FARM testbed will feature under-canopy autonomous robotic solutions for cover-crop planting.

ISTC engineer Paul Nielsen stands beside the biphasic solvent system at the Abbott Power Plant.

ISTC engineer Paul Nielsen stands beside the biphasic solvent system at the Abbott Power Plant.

Researchers work in their lab at Beckman Institute using equipment that allows a high-intensity focused ultrasound sonification of mechanoluminescent elastomer that produces a blue light with a high degree of spatiotemporal control. The ultrasound-activated synthetic molecule process could then be used to emit light deep inside biologic tissue for a variety of medical uses and therapies.

Researchers work in their lab at Beckman Institute using equipment that allows a high-intensity focused ultrasound sonification of mechanoluminescent elastomer that produces a blue light with a high degree of spatiotemporal control. The ultrasound-activated synthetic molecule process could then be used to emit light deep inside biologic tissue for a variety of medical uses and therapies.

NSF event

NCSA Executive Associate Director for Engagement John Towns, Associate Director for User Services Laura T. Herriott, Senator Dick Durbin, NSF Director Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan, Associate Director for Integrated Cyberinfrastructure Amy Schuele, and Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation Susan Martinis at the NSF Awards Announcement on April 22.

General Education Assembly on Learning Outcomes discussion of Advanced Composition, Cultural Studies, and Humanities and Arts.

General Education Assembly on Learning Outcomes discussion of Advanced Composition, Cultural Studies, and Humanities and Arts.

Drs. Catherine and Don Kleinmuntz speak with IGB Fellow Will Montgomery about cancer research at the IGB's World of Genomics at the Saint Louis Science Center.

Catherine and Don Kleinmuntz share the University’s passion to deepen the connection between science and society, and made a significant gift during the With Illinois Campaign to see their vision through. Read more.

The Beckman Café offers a place for researchers, students, and staff members to connect, exchange ideas, and build bridges.

University of Illinois president emeritus, Stan Ikenberry, and his wife Judy were inspired by the Beckman Institute’s Café renovation concept: an investment they see keeping Illinois and the Beckman Institute at its best. Read more.

Continue Your Support

Your continued support ensures Research Centers & Institutes remains a place where progress and innovation can flourish. Find your passion and help us dream even bigger!

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See More Impact

Philanthropy has benefited students, faculty, and staff in many ways. Browse the list below to learn more about how the With Illinois Campaign’s impact can be felt across campus.