MSU Innovation Center

LANSING, Mich. (Apr. 8, 2026) — Yesterday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the MSU Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to announce Adrenaline Interactive as the grand prize winner of the 2026 PitchMI Championship. Following a high-stakes “Shark Tank” style competition at Grewal Hall in Lansing, the company was awarded a $1 million investment, bringing its tot…

Imagine holding a miniature, beating human heart in the palm of your hand—not a metaphor, but a real, living mini-heart grown from stem cells. That’s not science fiction. It’s science fact, and it’s happening thanks to a powerful partnership between Michigan State University (MSU) and CytoHub Inc., a biotech company poised to revolutionize cardiac research, drug development, and regenerative medi…

New research finds that exposure to PFAS may weaken the immune system in adults, raising new concerns about the long-term health effects of these widely used chemicals. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a large class of human-made chemicals used in products ranging from nonstick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics to firefighting foams. Often called “forever … The post Study link…

For the nearly 200 million women and girls worldwide who suffer from endometriosis, the introduction of hormone-free treatments would be a game changer. MSU researchers are working to make this happen. For many patients, each menstrual cycle brings days of excruciating pain that leads to missed work, school and social activities. Their suffering is compounded … The post MSU researchers expand the…

EAST LANSING, Mich. — PAWPrint Concepts, a first-of-its-kind early childhood literacy assessment developed by Michigan State University researchers, will make its national conference debut at the 2026 National Head Start Conference & Expo, May 4–7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Designed to identify print concepts and knowledge gaps in children ages 3–5 (a critical predictor of reading … The post MSU…

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to be the most attended tournament in history. According to FIFA, global excitement surrounding the event is already brimming with more than 5 million fans expected to attend the tournament’s 104 matches in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with 6 billion more engaging with … The post MSU turfgrass takes center stage at FIFA World Cup …

Hearing tests administered to most newborn babies in Michigan could hold clues to which ones might later be diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder. Such a finding could identify at-risk children who could benefit from early interventions, and support their participation in family, school, and community activities, said Nicole Talge, a College of … The post …

Three Michigan State University graduate students were selected for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science Graduate Student Research program. The award provides world-class training and access to state-of-the-art facilities at DOE national laboratories, preparing the next generation of scientists for roles of critical importance to the nation’s energy, science and national innovation priori…

Nine Michigan State University researchers have been elected 2025 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, one of the world’s largest and most respected scientific societies. Ann Austin, Gary Blanchard, Shi-you Ding, Dean Lee, Hui Li, Elena Litchman, James McCusker, Dohun Pyeon and Elise Zipkin are being recognized for their work in education, chemistry, cancer…

For a decade, Jane Hiske lived in denial of her diabetes diagnosis. “I watched my own brother start out with just a sore on his foot. He had to have part of his foot taken off. Then the toes had to come off with another surgery. They ended up taking him at the knee. That’s when it … The post A lifesaving partnership transforming diabetes care appeared first on MSU Innovation Center .

David Douches, a Michigan State University (MSU) Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, describes plant breeding as a career-long mission: “We are the scientists behind the scenes, creating potatoes that are better for the farmers, better for the industry, and ultimately better for the consumer.” For decades, he has focused … The post David Douches Breed…

The modern electrical grid faces unprecedented pressure. As the prevalence of electric vehicles, data centers, and electric heating grows, power demand surges. Yet the traditional solution remains costly, time-consuming “wire-and-pole” upgrades.  This year’s MSU Innovation Center Startup of the Year, Switched Source, offers a faster, more efficient solution. Using advanced power electronics to re…

AG3 Labs, a student-founded startup, develops low-cost, highly maneuverable drone systems for military and defense training. Designed to fly in coordinated swarms with repeatable flight patterns, these drones serve as realistic aerial targets, enabling teams to train against agile unmanned threats common in modern conflicts.  Unlike multipurpose drone platforms containing advanced sensors and com…

For decades, the medical community has faced a frustrating dilemma: cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, yet the pipeline for new treatments is a high-risk gamble that usually ends in failure. More than 92% of heart-related drugs that pass preclinical animal tests fail to receive FDA approval during human trials, and for complex cardiovascular conditions, success r…

In fruit orchards, timing is critical. When labor is scarce or costly, fruit may remain unharvested, causing lost income and risking the relocation of specialty crop production from Michigan to regions with larger orchards and more workers.  “If we don’t automate critical tasks quickly, crops will remain on trees or rot. Industries will leave, and so will our domestic … The post Innovation of the…

Supporting sustainability is easy; implementing it is not. Companies have to juggle rising energy costs, stricter regulations, and pressure to cut carbon emissions, all while continuing to deliver reliable products and services. For Wei Liao, Professor at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, the challenge is making sustainability work at scale.  “…

A team of scientists at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences have uncovered a mechanism that allows certain head and neck cancers to hide from the immune system, a discovery that could change how some of the most treatment resistant tumors are approached. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of … The post MSU Scientists Uncover How HPV-Positive Canc…

EAST LANSING, Mich. — As conversations continue to build among policymakers and industry leaders on how to best address nutrient runoff, energy transition and sustainable waste management in the Great Lakes region, Michigan State University scientists are pioneering solutions that transform organic waste into a public asset. On May 15, George Smith, director of MSU AgBioResearch, and Wei Liao, … …