SIU centers report research growth: soybean research, cancer institute expansion and predictive analytics projects

Trustees heard updates from campus centers and institutes highlighting research, outreach and clinical expansion across the SIU system, including work by the Illinois Soybean Center, the Simmons Cancer Institute at the SIU School of Medicine, and the Center for Predictive Analytics at SIUE.

Illinois Soybean Center: Professor Boyd Goodson described the center’s role in supporting soybean research, training students and distributing seed grants. He said the center was established in 1997 and receives both endowment interest and campus support. Goodson reported the center supports six seed‑funded research projects, trains graduate and undergraduate students (about 30 grad and 20 undergrad students per year on average), and that external funding awards averaged about $1,500,000 over the last three years (roughly $100,000 per award).

Simmons Cancer Institute: Dr. Aziz Khan briefed trustees on clinical volume and program growth. He reported total patient visits increased from 21,679 in FY23 to 25,423 in FY24 and infusion visits rose from about 6,500 to 9,400. He said the institute’s oral chemotherapy pharmacy achieved ACHC accreditation, operates with two dedicated pharmacists, and has produced retained net revenue reported between $150,000 and $180,000 per month; the institute reported being $2.4 million “in the black” as of February 2025. Khan described ongoing outreach clinics (Jacksonville, Staunton) and plans for a third‑floor non‑chemotherapy infusion unit with 10 bays, one private room and two nursing stations; architectural drawings are complete.

Center for Predictive Analytics (CPAN): Dr. Carrie Butts Wilmsmeyer outlined projects that apply machine learning and data science to community and student needs. CPAN’s projects include an opioid patient‑risk index funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the state prescription monitoring program, developed with the School of Pharmacy; a reentry‑focused workforce development project (the PROW grant) funded by the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Labor; and local community work on digital literacy and the cost of homelessness. She said current community partnerships include East St. Louis, Venice and Madison and added the center is coordinating with local health partners and government officials.

Why this matters: the updates show growing research activity and clinical capacity, training pipelines for health professions, and university engagement in regional public‑health initiatives. Trustees thanked presenters and asked follow‑up questions about outreach, training pipelines and next steps for facilities expansion and program scaling.

Quotes: “Our external funding awards average about $1,500,000 over the last three years, about $100,000 per award,” said Professor Boyd Goodson of the Illinois Soybean Center. Dr. Aziz Khan said the Simmons Cancer Institute has been “in the black” and is using retained revenue to expand services: “This is from February 2025, and we were $2,400,000 in the black.” Dr. Carrie Butts Wilmsmeyer described CPAN’s opioid risk index and community partnerships and said the work enables targeted interventions for at‑risk patients and returning residents.

Next steps: the Simmons Cancer Institute will proceed with detailed planning for the infusion expansion and continue fellowship growth (from two to three fellows per year, with additional clinical hires anticipated). CPAN will continue community engagements and develop project pilots in the Alton Wedge Innovation Center.