MSU Innovation Center

Most high school biology students learn that plants use photosynthesis to turn light into energy. Associate Professor Berkley Walker said that’s only scratching the surface. Plants use that energy to capture carbon dioxide, or CO2, from the atmosphere and convert it into sugars. These sugars are the building blocks plants use to grow. From the … The post What if we could solve food sustainability…

Between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago, many of the world’s largest mammals disappeared. Picture creatures like saber-toothed cats with 7-inch fangs and elephant-sized sloths. Woolly mammoths whose curved tusks grew longer than 12 feet. Even a 3-ton wombat the size of a car. After roaming the Earth for millions of years, most large-bodied mammals — … The post Giants that vanished 10,000 years ago tr…

EAST LANSING, Mich. — In 2013, funding challenges were at the forefront for Michigan State University AgBioResearch, weakening the ability to support efforts at its strategically located research stations around the state. The organization was still enduring the residual effects of the Great Recession, and difficult decisions were imminent. As a result, AgBioResearch leaders assembled a committee…

Radiochemistry and Radiopharmacy Solutions, more commonly known as RadCore, has launched an exciting new era of scientific possibility at Michigan State University, with several clinical trials underway fueled by the new central facility – the MSU Radiopharmacy. RadCore’s mission is to manufacture and transform raw radioisotopes into high-quality imaging and therapeutic agents for research studie…

Recent epic leaps in genetics have created a biodiversity library. As the genetic make-up of animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and viruses has been mapped, researchers racing to develop solutions to today’s global challenges run into a question: Why be limited to a mouse? Fish, bears, birds, snakes, water fleas, and carnivorous plants are among the … The post Moving past the mouse – genetic advan…

ESCANABA, Mich. — A forester, psychologist and microbiologist meet with each other in the woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. … No, this isn’t the start of a sappy joke. However, the story about to be told is sappy. Jesse Randall, director of the Michigan State University (MSU) Forestry Innovation Center (FIC), is working with a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team … The post MSU Fore…

Michigan State University has been awarded a $250,000 grant through the inaugural Modernizing Academic Appointment and Advancement, or MA3, Challenge, strengthening a university-wide effort to reimagine how faculty and academic staff are recognized and supported in their career advancement. The national initiative funds bold approaches to academic hiring, review, promotion and tenure systems, wit…

As April marks Autism Awareness Month, faculty in the Department of Media and Information (M&I) are working to improve how mental health is assessed among autistic adolescents by redesigning screening tools to be more accessible, precise and inclusive. Led by Celeste Campos-Castillo and Susan Bonner, associate professors in M&I, their project combines expertise in communication, health services a…

Once a theoretical idea, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a critical tool for manufacturers across the globe. Some manufacturers are slow to embed the evolving technology into their factories, with concerns around operational costs, trust, transparency and workforce readiness. Industry leaders, students and faculty gathered at the inaugural Apple Manufacturing Academy Spring Forum, in par…

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Research from Michigan State University Professor J. Richard Pursley is trailblazing an area within dairy cattle management that Wendell Van Gunst says is essential to keep farms profitable. “I think almost every dairy farmer would agree that nothing is as critical to the success of a dairy farm than the reproductive success of cows … The post M-AAA investment powers MSU dis…

Often diagnosed in the teenage years, childhood-onset lupus is a serious, potentially fatal autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack itself. For as many as 10,000 U.S. youths, it can bring extreme fatigue, mood changes, pain and inflammation that affect many parts of the body. Now, these kids have an option for treatment that … The post Program for kids with lupus can change lives in 6 s…

In Michigan’s Thumb region, where agriculture drives both the landscape and the economy, the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center, or SVREC, helps growers solve real-world challenges by testing what works directly in the field. At the core of that work is the land itself and the people who manage it. “We’re trying to mirror … The post Where research meets the field: Inside the Saginaw Val…

Quantum technology is advancing rapidly, outpacing most companies’ ability to keep up. Quantum sensing devices are moving from prototypes to commercial products, and quantum networking and computing are drawing significant federal and private investment. Across sectors such as defense, aerospace, artificial intelligence, and healthcare, companies are increasingly focused on how quantum will impac…

Nicholas Houghton can’t remember a time when he wasn’t fascinated by astronauts and human space flight. “Throughout my entire life there was one focus,” he says. “I’m going to work for NASA.” What he hadn’t imagined was that one day he’d help design the systems that could keep astronauts safe on a mission around the moon. … The post This Spartan engineer helped the Artemis II crew get to the moon…

Doctors and nurses help individuals get well. In contrast, public health protects entire communities by preventing illness before it starts. Public health acts as an invisible shield, preventing illness by addressing the social determinants of health — the nonmedical conditions, such as where we are born, live, work, play and age. Factors such as housing, … The post 5 ways MSU is redefining publi…

The potatoes behind America’s potato chips are getting an upgrade. Researchers at Michigan State University have developed five new potato varieties designed to help strengthen the U.S. chip supply by improving disease resistance, long-term storage and processing reliability. The varieties — Manistee, Mackinaw, Petoskey, Huron Chipper and Blackberry — are the result of more than … The post Resear…

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…