"There's a need here. We're developing something special here in Peoria," says Robert McWilliams, MD, the deputy director with OSF Cancer Institute. "This helps us get recognition that we're a player in the region and serving the people of Central Illinois. It also means we're collaborating with other researchers in the region to put OSF and those we serve on the map."

HCRN is a consortium of community oncology programs and academic centers across the United States that collaborate on clinical trials, with a particular focus on investigator-initiated studies. Founded in 1984, HCRN now supports a nationwide network of more than 100 academic and community research sites. The organization has conducted more than 250 clinical trials, enrolled more than 10,000 patients and contributed to more than 350 scientific publications.

“We are delighted to welcome OSF Cancer Institute as a member of our network. We believe there is great value in bringing together academic centers and outstanding community providers like OSF Cancer Institute to advance cancer care in a real-world setting,” says Brian Stemme, CEO of HCRN. “Our team is honored to support these vital collaborations.”                

HCRN brings together leading academic cancer centers and community oncology programs, including numerous National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers across the U.S.

"They have an ongoing portfolio of clinical trials that we can decide whether it makes sense for us to open here in Peoria, or in some of our other OSF markets as well," Dr. McWilliams adds. "Then we can have our trials open through that network and accelerate the speed and rapidity of the research that is done."

The affiliation strengthens the growing role of OSF Cancer Institute in cancer research and positions the organization to contribute to clinical studies that could shape the future of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. For those served, this work creates more opportunities to participate in cancer research while receiving high-quality care.

At OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute in Peoria, people from across the state have access to one of Illinois’ few Level 4 Epilepsy Centers, offering the highest level of specialized epilepsy care available.

Designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC), the Level 4 accreditation recognizes the center's ability to provide advanced diagnostic testing, comprehensive medical management and complex surgical treatments for epilepsy. The designation also reflects a broader commitment to expanding access for expert epilepsy care for people throughout Illinois.

For Thandar Aung, MD, medical director of the epilepsy center at OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute, improving access to specialized epilepsy care was one of the primary reasons she joined OSF.

"In my past job, I was getting patients from all over the country, and even outside of the United States," Dr. Aung says. "The access to epileptologists, or rather the lack of access, really showed why there are limitations."

Having spent her career in large metropolitan academic medical centers, Dr. Aung saw firsthand how difficult it can be for people to find an epilepsy specialist.

Peoria stood out because of its ability to serve people across a large geographic region. OSF Illinois Neurological Institute regularly cares for people throughout Central and Western Illinois, including communities near the Iowa and Missouri borders. For many Illinois residents living near those state lines, receiving care in Illinois can also make a significant difference when navigating insurance coverage.

Epilepsy is a lifelong condition, so getting the right care as early as possible helps people live their lives to the fullest.

What Level 4 means for patients

The NAEC designates epilepsy centers based on the level of care they can provide. A Level 4 epilepsy center offers the most comprehensive services available, including advanced diagnostic testing, multidisciplinary care and complex surgical procedures for people whose seizures cannot be controlled with medication alone.

"Level 4 is where you're able to do the invasive epilepsy surgeries, including invasive pre-surgical evaluation such as depth electrodes also known as stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG),” Dr. Aung says. “You place them in the brain based on a hypothesis, using all the available data to determine where the seizures are coming from. Of course, this is very dependent on experience. If you place the SEEG electrodes in the wrong locations, you could localize the seizures to the wrong part of the brain, potentially leading to an unsuccessful surgery or harm to the patient.”

The Level 4 designation also reflects the collaborative approach patients receive. Physicians, including epileptologists and functional neurosurgeons, work alongside specialized nurses, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, social workers and other experts to create individualized treatment plans tailored to each person's needs.

Advancing epilepsy care

While medications successfully control seizures for many people with epilepsy, others have drug-resistant epilepsy and may benefit from surgery or newer technologies.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is one innovation Dr. Aung is particularly excited about. The technology measures the brain’s magnetic fields (instead of the electrical field used in an electroencephalogram (EEG)), to help identify where seizures originate.

"With an EEG, we try to read the brain and its electrical activity," Dr. Aung says. "There's another way you can read brain activity by using the magnetic field. Sometimes you cannot see the electrical activity, but you can see it with the magnetic activity."

Dr. Aung also hopes to expand access to epilepsy clinical trials, giving patients opportunities to receive promising therapies before they become widely available and helping researchers better understand which treatments work best for each person.

Recognizing the signs

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurring seizures, but not every seizure looks the same. While some involve full-body convulsions, others may appear as brief staring spells, confusion or other subtle changes.

Dr. Aung encourages anyone experiencing unexplained episodes or symptoms that continue to occur to seek medical evaluation as soon as possible.

Although seizures are commonly related to abnormal brain activity, she notes that some heart conditions can mimic seizures and may be life-threatening if left untreated.

As one of the few Level 4 epilepsy centers in Illinois, OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute is continuing to grow its capabilities with one goal in mind: ensuring more patients throughout the state have access to the advanced, comprehensive epilepsy care they need.

Video Interview Clips

A growing social media trend is putting vibration plates in the spotlight as a potential tool to shake off lymphedema symptoms, though specialists caution that the devices should complement, not replace, established therapies.

Whole-body vibration plates, which create rapid muscle contractions while users stand, sit or exercise on the device, have attracted attention online for claims that they can improve circulation, reduce swelling and support lymphatic health.

Many people discover the devices through social media platforms such as TikTok, where wellness trends often spread quickly. Rachel Rohman, PT, DPT, CLT, an OSF HealthCare physical therapist specializing in lymphedema treatment, stresses that while vibration plates may provide an additional tool for symptom management, they should not replace compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage or other evidence-based treatments.

She also warns against believing claims circulating online that portray vibration plates as a standalone solution for lymphedema. While early research is encouraging, Rohman says evidence specific to lymphedema remains limited.

More research is needed

“There has been a lot of positive research regarding, especially improvements in circulation, improved venous vasodilation and getting the blood moving,” Rohman says. “While the circulatory system and the lymph system go hand in hand, there's not as much research looking directly at people with lymphedema and use of vibration plates.”

Lymphedema is a chronic condition caused by a disruption in the lymphatic system that leads to swelling, most commonly in the arms or legs. While the condition cannot be cured, it can often be effectively managed through treatments such as compression garments, manual lymphatic drainage therapy and compression pumps.

Rohman points out studies examining vibration plates in healthy individuals, and patients with other medical conditions, have demonstrated benefits related to circulation and mobility. A smaller number of studies have explored their use among people with lymphedema or related conditions, with some positive results.

In the past few years, there have been a handful of published studies including one that looked at women with a related condition called lipedema, which results in an abnormal fat buildup on both sides of the body.

Rohman explains, “Those women do get some swelling and that study did show some positive improvements in swelling over time with use of vibration plates in addition to manual lymphatic drainage massage. So, the new studies are showing some promise. I think there will be a lot more promising research that comes out, even potentially in the next few years.”

Because research remains limited, vibration plates are not considered part of the standard of care for lymphedema management. Instead, Rohman says she discusses the devices primarily with patients who are already following established treatment recommendations and are looking for additional ways to manage symptoms.

Vibration plates can be a good supplement to care

“They are already potentially doing their other treatment options that are more standard of care, but they're just looking to take their treatment to the next level and so I’m telling them that is an additional option they can try that does have some promising research,” Rohman shares.

Users of vibration plates often report feeling less swollen, more energized or generally better after use. For most healthy people, the devices are frequently incorporated into fitness routines, allowing people to perform body-weight exercises while standing on the vibrating platform.

Still, Rohman cautions that the devices are not appropriate for everyone.

“I am looking for a patient that does not have any medical contraindications,” Rohman says. “They don't have any uncontrolled medical conditions that would warrant being seen by a specialist. Someone with an implanted device like a pacemaker, that can cause some harm to the device, which could be life-threatening.”

Patients with poor balance, untreated blood clots or uncontrolled heart and respiratory conditions could face increased risks. Anyone trying a vibration plate should begin with a low setting and short sessions before gradually increasing intensity.

For people experiencing swelling and considering vibration therapy, Rohman recommends consulting a lymphedema specialist first to determine whether the treatment is appropriate and to rule out other underlying causes.

As interest in vibration plates continues to grow, Rohman emphasizes that potential users should approach the therapy with realistic expectations and view it as one potential component of a broader treatment plan rather than a miracle cure.

Rachel Rohman is a physical therapist specializing in lymphedema treatment at OSF HealthCare in Bloomington.

Video clips with Rachel Rhoman

B-roll-Vibration plates