Researchers at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) and from the University of Illinois Macro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MNTL) are collaborating in a new research theme focusing on using micro RNAs and nanotechnology to develop technologies to characterize tumors and monitor how they grow. Brian Cunningham, a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Bioengineering, and Director of the MNTL, will lead the “Omics Nanotechnology for Precision Cancer Medicine” (ONC-PM) theme. The group will work on designing tools to track material shed in the blood by tumors (biomarkers).