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Research Day

Computer pixels showing the use of data in various shades of blue. UIC Rockford's 31st annual Research Day, Friday, April 10, 2026 with theme, Evidence for Impact: Driving Change Through Health Policy Research.

Research Day 2026 is a forum to showcase research conducted at UIC Rockford, as well as that of its affiliated and regional institutions. Now in its 31st year, the event adopts the theme, "Evidence for Impact: Driving Change Through Health Policy Research. " The program will include distinguished keynote addresses, student-led presentations, and an extensive selection of research posters authored by students, residents, faculty, and staff.

Keynote speaker, Elbert Huang, MD, MPH, FACP, is professor of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, director of the Center for Chronic Disease Research and Policy, and senior advisor to the Vice Provost for Research at the University of Chicago. Huang is also is a practicing primary care doctor who studies clinical and health care policy issues at the intersection of diabetes, aging, and health economics. His keynote address is entitled, From Data to Decisions: Health Services & Economics Research Impacting Policy.

Keynote speaker, Justin Sydnor, PhD, holds the American Family Insurance Distinguished Chair in Risk Management and Insurance at the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is an expert in behavioral economics and his research agenda spans health insurance and broader health economics topics, including studies of decision-making and health-behavior change. His keynote address is entitled, Rethinking the Design of Health Insurance.

Manorama M. Khare, PhD, research professor and director for Division of Health Research and Evaluation in the Division of Health Research and Evaluation for the Department of Family and Community Medicine, is the Research Day 2026 chair. She is a research professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford with extensive experience in research related to underserved populations, women’s health and diversity in higher education. Her technical expertise includes program evaluation, planning and implementation of community-based programs, quantitative and qualitative research methods, quasi experimental research designs, survey development and multivariate data analysis.

 

 

Deadline for Abstract Submission: Friday, February 13, 2026, 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 20, 2026, 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 9, 2026.

Research Day: Friday, April 10, 2026.

 

Feb 13 2026
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Research Day 2026: Abstract Due Date

Friday, 5:00 pm–5:00 pm
Mar 20 2026
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Research Day 2026: Poster Submission Due Date

Friday, 5:00 pm–5:00 pm
Apr 9 2026
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Research Day 2026: Judging Night

Thursday, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm
UIC Rockford, Commons, Partners' Pavilion and 3rd Floor Atrium A Building
Apr 10 2026
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Research Day 2026: Breakfast and networking

Friday, 8:15 am–8:45 am
UIC Rockford, Partners' Pavilion and Commons
Apr 10 2026
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Research Day 2026: Welcome

Friday, 8:45 am–9:00 am
UIC Rockford, A254
Apr 10 2026
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Research Day 2026: Keynote Speaker Dr. Huang

Friday, 9:00 am–10:00 am
UIC Rockford, A254
Apr 10 2026
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Research Day 2026

Friday, 9:00 am–4:30 pm
UIC Rockford
Apr 10 2026
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Research Day 2026: Keynote Address Dr. Syndor

Friday, 10:15 am–11:15 am
UIC Rockford, A254
Apr 10 2026
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Research Day 2026: Poster Viewing

Friday, 11:30 am–12:30 pm
UIC Rockford, Commons, Partners' Pavilion, and 3rd Floor Atrium A Building
Apr 10 2026
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Research Day 2026: Learning Lunch

Friday, 12:45 pm–1:30 pm
UIC Rockford, A254

 

 

Submit your abstract

 

 

Submit your poster

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

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