Research Day

UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford's 30th Annual Research Day, Friday, April 11, 2025, on blue background with historical photos

Research Day is a forum to highlight research conducted at the UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford, as well as affiliated and regional institutions. This year’s event will feature prominent keynote speakers, student presentations and dozens of research posters from students, residents, staff and faculty.

Important Dates

Save the date for the 30th Annual Research Day:

Friday, April 11, 2025

Dr. Morten P. Meldal, awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, is our keynote speaker. A professor at the University of Copenhagen and head of the Center of Evolutionary Chemical Biology, Dr. Meldal has a unique influence on methods used in peptide and combinatorial chemistry. His pioneering work spans combinatorial chemistry, click chemistry, polymer chemistry, and more, influencing fields from synthetic biology to nano assays.

Dr. Ramaswamy Kalyanasundaram, Head of Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Michael L. and the Susan M. Glasser Professor of Rural Health Professions Education and Research, leads research on vaccines against lymphatic filariasis and gene mining of schistosome and lymphatic filarial parasites. His team’s work includes identifying vaccine candidates and advancing strategies for effective immunization.

Use this RSVP form to advise the Office of Research of your attendance at the Keynote Address.

Deadline for Abstract Submission: Friday, February 14, 2025, by 5 p.m. Please note: Due to increased participation in Research Day and limited space, each primary author may submit up to two abstracts. This does not include posters where you are listed as a secondary author or collaborator

Deadline for Poster Submission: Friday, March 28, 2025, by 5 p.m.
Researchers should reference Poster Submission Resources below. All posters, regardless of where they will be printed, must be submitted as a pdf file through the “Submit Your Poster” link.

Judging Night: Thursday, April 10, 2025

Research Day Events

Award Categories

Best Basic Science Research Poster Award | Sponsored by: Department of Biomedical Sciences

Best Basic Science Research Poster Award | Sponsored by: Thermo Fisher Scientific

Best Case Study Award | Sponsored by: Office of Research, UICOMR

Best Innovative Project Award | Sponsored by: Office of Technology Management, UIC

Best MBT Student Research Poster Award | Sponsored by: Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology (MBT) Program and Department of Biomedical Sciences

Best Rockford Research Mentoring Program Mentor | Sponsored by: Office of Research, UICOMR

Best Student Technical Poster Awards (Two Awards) | Sponsored by: Winnebago County Medical Society

Best Use of Literature in a Student Research Project Award | Sponsored by: Crawford Library of the Health Sciences-Rockford

College of Pharmacy Outstanding Poster Award | Sponsored by: UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy

Dean’s Action Council Award | Sponsored by: Office of the Regional Dean, UICOMR

Excellence in Health Equity Research Award | Sponsored by: Rockford Campus Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Innovation in Basic Science Research Award | Sponsored by: Office of the Regional Dean, UICOMR

James Scholar Award | Sponsored by: Rockford Gastroenterology Associates, Ltd and the James Scholar Committee

NCRHP Poster Award for Encouraging Excellence in Rural Health | Sponsored by: National Center for Rural Health Professions

Research Mentoring Program-Rockford (RMPR) Award | Sponsored by: Office of Research, UICOMR

Sister Mary Linus Nowak Research Award | Sponsored by: Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Previous Research Day Winners and Awards

Research Day Committee

Email: RkfdResearchDay@uic.edu