High School Students Join UIC Undergrads for Research Symposium

More than two dozen high school and undergraduate students who participated in summer research programs at the University of Illinois Cancer Center wowed the crowd with impressive presentations of their research projects at a closing symposium.

Program mentors, families and friends packed the Cancer Center’s 2026 Summer Student Research Symposium, held on August 5, to watch the students eagerly showcase what they learned and admire their research posters.

The symposium featured students from three programs: ResearcHStart and CHESS (Cancer Health Engagement Summer Scholars) for high school students, and U-CREATE (Undergraduate Cancer Research Exploration and Training Experience) for undergraduate students.

The symposium keynote speaker was Beulah Brent, the CEO of Sisters Working it Out (SWIO), a women’s health and advocacy organization and a much-valued community partner of the Cancer Center.

Summer programs are run through the Cancer Center’s Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) team and are critical to the mission of increasing the number of trainees, from high school to junior faculty, who pursue cancer research as a potential career field. Increasing the number of trainees interested in oncology research at all levels in the workforce can improve cancer outcomes for all.

A fourth program for medical students, hosted by the Cancer Center as part of the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program: Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP), wrapped up with presentations of their research projects at a July 8 culminating event.

Originally posted by the University of Illinois Cancer Center.