2026 Translational Science Pilot Projects
Developing an AI-Based Cardiovascular Risk Prediction model for Rural Type 2 Diabetes
PI: Hana Hinkle, PhD, MPH, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford
Co-Is:
Tesfamariam Abuhay, MSc, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Academic Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago
Hema Krishna, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago
Kiruthika Balakrishnan, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate, National Center for Rural Health Professions, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford
Project Summary
People with type 2 diabetes are much more likely to develop heart disease, a leading cause of illness and death. Doctors often use risk calculators to decide who needs early treatment, but many of these tools do not work well in real clinics, especially in rural areas, because important health information is missing, delayed, or hard to find during a patient visit. As a result, many high-risk patients are not identified early enough to prevent serious heart problems.
This project addresses a critical translational science gap by systematically examining why existing cardiovascular risk models fail to integrate into everyday clinical care. To do this, the team will analyze existing electronic health record data from rural and urban healthcare systems. Rather than recruit new patients, they will study past clinic visits to determine when risk scores can or cannot be calculated using available data.
By focusing on what is realistic in everyday practice, this project aims to support earlier identification of patients at high risk for heart disease and help doctors make better prevention decisions, especially in rural and other under-resourced healthcare settings.
From Research to Clinical Practice: Embedding Consumergrade mHealth Technologies Into Cardiac Rehabilitation as a Model for Chronic Disease Management
PI: Spyridon Kitsiou, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago College of Applied Health Sciences
Co-Is:
Joel Hardwick, DCEP, ACSM CEP, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois Chicago College of Applied Health Sciences
Cemal Ozemek, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois Chicago College of Applied Health Sciences
Jiehuan Sun, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
Project Summary
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of illness and death in the United States. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is essential for recovery after cardiac events, helping patients improve physical fitness, manage risk factors, and adopt healthier lifestyles. However, many patients are unable to complete these programs or find it difficult to sustain healthy behaviors once they leave the clinic.
Mobile health tools—such as smartphone apps, wearable fitness trackers, and home monitoring devices—offer new ways to support patients in their everyday lives. Even though many people already use these tools, most have not been well studied in real health care settings, and few have been successfully built into routine patient care. As a result, these technologies are not yet widely used to support long-term management of heart disease.
This project will test BRIDGE, a new program that combines traditional, in-clinic cardiac rehabilitation with commonly used mobile health tools to help patients stay active, eat well, take medications as prescribed, and track their health at home. By using low-cost, widely available technology within an existing rehabilitation program, BRIDGE aims to improve access to care and provide ongoing support beyond clinic visits. If successful, this approach could offer a practical, scalable way to improve heart health—especially in communities with limited resources.
An Engineered CD40 Antibody Platform for Personalized Cancer and Universal Influenza Vaccines
PI: Seung Young Lee, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago Retzky College of Pharmacy
Co-Is:
Kent Hoskins, MD, Eileen Lindsay Heidrick Professor in Oncology, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology /Oncology, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago
Lijun Rong, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago
Project Summary
Vaccines are one of the best tools we have to prevent disease and protect public health, especially during pandemics. However, despite major scientific advances, the development of new vaccines remains slow, in part because many vaccine components are not efficiently delivered to the immune system or do not generate strong, long-lasting immune responses.
This project is developing a new vaccine delivery approach designed to solve these problems. It uses a human antibody that targets CD40, CD40, a key molecule that activates dendritic cells. Once activated, dendritic cells instruct immune cells such as T cells to mount strong and disease-specific immune responses.
Importantly, the platform has a “plug-and-play” design, allowing new disease antigens to be rapidly incorporated without redesigning the vaccine. This flexibility makes it broadly applicable to many diseases, including cancer, infectious diseases, age-associated conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders, helping communities benefit from timely, innovative vaccines that strengthen public health and preparedness.
DHA Metabolite-Enriched Astrocyte EVs as Novel Alzheimer’s Nanotherapeutic
PI: James Lee, PhD, Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago
Co-Is:
Jalees Rehman, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago
Stephanie Cologna, PhD, Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Project Summary
Alzheimer’s disease slowly destroys memory and thinking. It affects millions of Americans and places a heavy burden on families and healthcare systems. One big reason it gets worse is that tiny blood vessels in the brain become damaged and leaky, while brain cells get inflamed and stressed from oxygen problems. Right now, there is no good way to safely deliver strong medicines past the brain’s protective wall (called the blood-brain barrier) to fix these problems.
This project looks to create a new, natural medicine using tiny natural packets that brain support cells (called astrocytes) already make. These packets are like safe delivery trucks that can cross into the brain without harm. The team will grow these support cells in the lab and feed them DHA, a healthy fish-oil nutrient. Inside the cells, DHA turns into much stronger helpers (up to 100 times more powerful) that calm inflammation and protect brain blood vessels. If successful this project will result in a new, safe way to deliver powerful natural medicine to the brain—not just for Alzheimer’s, but possibly for stroke, Parkinson’s, and other brain diseases too.
A Community and Organizational Needs Assessment to Inform Eye Care Integration in Community Health Centers
PI: Angelica Scanzera, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago
Co-Is:
Judes Fleurimont, MPH, Director of Research, UI Health Mile Square Health Center
Justin Markowski, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy & Administration, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
Project Summary
Many people lose vision from conditions like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, problems that can often be prevented with early detection and treatment. Community Health Centers (CHCs) serve more than 32 million people nationwide each year, including many who face the greatest barriers to eye care. Yet fewer than one-third of CHCs offer vision services, and only a very small percentage of CHC patients ever receive vision services, risking serious but treatable eye diseases that frequently go undiagnosed.
CHCs often face challenges adapting to new service lines and technologies in resource-limited settings, and there is limited guidance on operationalizing adaptations. This project examines an integrated framework to help guide CHCs in assessing barriers, facilitators, and readiness factors that influence adaptation to new service lines in ways that are responsive to patient, community, and organizational needs.
The team will conduct a comprehensive eye care needs assessment in partnership with Mile Square Health Center (MSHC), a large CHC network. By gathering input from patients, providers, and staff, they will identify the most pressing eye care needs and practical barriers that limit access today. Findings will guide the development of sustainable, community-informed solutions, such as on-site eye care or technology-supported screening, that make early detection and treatment more accessible.