The University of Illinois System is pleased to launch a Clinical Laboratory Development Program, to address the critical shortage of qualified clinical laboratory personnel in Illinois. The goal of the program, located at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is to develop the next generation of laboratory technicians and scientists through hands-on training and work experience. Our expertise comes through the work of SHIELD Illinois, the nonprofit organization of the University of Illinois System created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program developed a statewide network of high-throughput laboratories and has processed over 7 million covidSHIELD PCR tests. The inaugural cohort of the CDLP will begin in late 2023/early 2024.