North Egypt News

In a March 7 Facebook post, Rep. David Friess revealed that three Illinois Universities would be part of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago project.

"The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been chosen to lead the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago – a new biomedical hub – along with the University of Chicago and Northwestern University" Illinois representative Dave Friess said. 

On March 2, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative revealed the location of a second Biohub Network, this one in Chicago. Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago is expected to develop new technologies for studying and measuring human biology that will use embedded sensors and probes to collect biological signals from human tissues with unprecedented resolution, with the collaboration of the three universities. Shana O. Kelley of Northwestern University will lead CZ Biohub Chicago, which will initially focus on using a unique, engineering-driven approach to study human biology. By embedding thousands of sensors and sampling probes in tissues, scientists will be able to monitor molecular and cellular signals with unprecedented resolution and reveal how disruptions in these processes lead to inflammation and disease. 

This group will focus on learning about inflammation-based issues in the body and creating new approaches to treat inflammation-caused medical conditions. The Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign had this to say

“Our role in the CZ Biohub Chicago is further evidence that our university is working at the leading edge of advancing human health,” Chancellor Robert J. Jones said. “When we unite our expertise with the collective strengths of our world-class research university partners, the horizon for innovation in health expands exponentially. The partnership between our three institutions is strong and growing, and that translates directly and rapidly into impact for the people of Illinois.”

Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg are investing $250 million into this project, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The State of Illinois will also contribute $25 million.

“The Chicago biohub is going to build miniaturized sensors to understand how cells work together and interact within tissues,” Zuckerberg said in a video announcing the investment. “We’re then going to apply these technologies to measure and understand the inflammation in living human tissues because that plays a big part in our overall health. About 50% of all deaths can be attributed to inflammation-related diseases, including cancer, heart disease and dementia, so making progress here is pretty critical.”

Priscilla Chan also weighed in on the matter. 

“This institute will embark on science to embed miniaturized sensors into tissues that will allow us to understand how healthy and diseased tissues function in unprecedented detail,” Chan said in the release, adding that improving that understanding will give researchers a better idea of “what goes wrong in disease and how to fix it.” 

Chan believes that these concepts will become more realistic in the coming decade. 

“This might feel like science fiction today, but we think it’s realistic to achieve huge progress in the next 10 years,” added Chan, who is co-founder and co-CEO of CZI alongside her husband, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.