Block I logo
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Health + Wellness

Every person or animal that suffers from ill health and every pathogen that causes disease has its own genome. Research in this area examines how genome function directs the development of healthy bodies and how disorders disrupt that function.

Exploring the genomes of the microbes we live with also allows us to discover the molecular tools they use to aid or attack their hosts or to fight each other, knowledge that can act as a pathway to well-being.

Featured Stories

U. of I. psychology professor Brent Roberts, pictured, and his co-author, University of Toronto psychology professor Michael Inzlicht, argue that psychological science sometimes overemphasizes the role of willpower in human success and well-being. The personality trait “conscientiousness” is a better predictor of success, they write in a new review. Photo by Fred Zwicky
Research
Report: Conscientiousness, not willpower, is a reliable predictor of success
Read
The study team included, back row, from left, graduate student Rebecca Ultrich; chemistry professor Paul Hergenrother; Chris Fields, of the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, research scientist Po-Chao Wen, graduate student Matt Sinclair; and, front row, from left, senior scientist Hyang Yeon Lee; Jessica Holmes, of the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center; and biochemistry professor Emad Tajkhorshid. (Study lead author Kristen Muñoz not pictured)
Research
New antibiotic kills pathogenic bacteria, spares healthy gut microbes
Read
Gabriel Graham studies sex change in anemonefish.
Research, Profile
Gabriel Graham selected for the 2024 Tracy Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Read
Aspergillus flavus is uniquely adapted to survive in bee colonies.
Research
Researchers find unique adaptations of fungus associated with bee bread
Read
Composer and software developer Carla Scaletti and chemistry professor Martin Gruebele used sound to investigate hydrogen-bond dynamics during the protein-folding process. Photo by Fred Zwicky
Research
By listening, scientists learn how a protein folds
Read
Left to right: Hua Wang and Rohit Bhargava
Research
DOD Funding Awarded to Pursue Kidney Cancer Immunotherapy
Read