Dr. Tai R. Shin and Mrs. You H. Shin Vision Award in Cancer Research
About the Award
The Dr. Tai R. Shin Vision Award in Cancer Research was established in 2026 with a generous donation to the University of Illinois System from Dr. Tai R. Shin (MS 1977, PhD 2008 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign). The Award will be presented to a deserving university staff or faculty member who is engaged in cancer research that accelerates promising discoveries and demonstrates innovation. The Award will alternate between the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (FY27) and the University of Illinois Chicago (FY28).
Each year, the provost at the designated university will recommend a candidate from that year’s pool of nominees, following a competitive selection process. The recommendation will include a letter that speaks to the qualifications of the candidate and the reason they were chosen for the Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs’ consideration and confirmation.
Nominees must:
- Be faculty or staff at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (FY27 Award) or the University of Illinois Chicago (FY28 Award)
- Propose a project that will accelerate a promising discovery with regard to innovation in cancer research.
- Agree to participate in recognition and publicity activities associated with the Award.
About Shin
Tai Shin immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1973 with his late wife, You Shin and faced many hardships due to economic, language, and cultural barriers. Dr. Shin received a master's degree in food science from the UIUC in 1977 and then, at 65 years old, earned his doctorate in food science and human nutrition from UIUC, as well. Dr. Shin is president of Swagger Food Corporation in Vernon Hills, Illinois, the company he founded in 1978. Swagger supplies spices and dry goods to a range of customers in the industrial and retail markets. Shin credits the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign for giving him the tools he needed to build something meaningful and lasting.
As a cancer survivor, Dr. Shin developed a passion for how food provides needed nutrition in the patient recovery process. For the next several years, Dr. Shin has established funds at the University of Illinois Foundation to foster discovery and innovation to advance cancer research at both the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois Chicago. The $6 million dollar commitment has been prioritized to fund the two Vision Awards for cancer research, an endowed directorship at the University of Illinois Chicago Cancer Center, and an endowed chair at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Cancer Center.
Dr. and the late Mrs. You Shin have two daughters, Maria and Erica, who live with their families in the northern suburbs of Chicago.
Questions
Direct questions to U of I System Assistant Vice President Gretchen Lohman, chair of the Shin Award Committee, at glohm2@uillinois.edu.