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News

A x-ray of throat cancer

New $3M NIH grant supports Henry Ford + MSU researchers studying HPV-positive head and neck cancers

Researchers from Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences have been awarded a $3 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to study new treatments for patients who have head and neck cancer caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV.
Lake Michigan shoreline

Shoreline Armoring of Michigan’s Lake Michigan Coast Increased Fivefold During the Latest Period of High Water

Shoreline armoring along Michigan’s Lake Michigan coast has surged fivefold since 2014, as property owners raced to protect land from rising water levels. But new MSU research shows these hard structures, while protective in the short term, may fuel erosion and threaten ecosystems, raising tough questions for the future of coastal management
Drone view of the Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant

Politics Shape What Brazilians See on TV About Energy Shortages

A new study led by Karina Ninni Ramos of the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, reveals that relationships between presidents and the press strongly influence how the country’s biggest broadcasters cover energy shortages, blackouts, and rationing.
Gulbransen lab members

Decoding the Second Brain

Trust your gut is more than an expression. The gut’s ability to influence our wellbeing is rooted in the enteric nervous system. This complex network of neurons and glial cells that lines the gut is often called the “second brain.”
Sherif Ramadan at work in the lab

Sweet Targets: The Quest for an Improved Whooping Cough Vaccine

With cases on the rise, researchers are aiming to develop a “one-two punch” vaccine strategy against pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. This work could ultimately help reduce transmission of the disease and combat the threat of resistant bacteria mutating into stronger, more lethal “superbugs.”
Peter K. Lundquist in a lab

Scientists Solve Long-Standing Mystery of Amino Acid Transport in Plants

The team’s new study, published in Nature Plants, identifies a class of previously unknown transport proteins called RETICULATA1 (RE1), which enable the exchange of key amino acids within plant cells.
Musicians involved in the Waking Dream

“Waking Dream” Builds on Napoleon’s MSU Jazz Guitar Foundation

Jazz guitarist Randy Napoleon’s latest release, Waking Dream: The Music of Gregg Hill and Randy Napoleon (OA2 Records), is more than an album—it’s a testament to mentorship, collaboration, and the vibrant jazz community cultivated at MSU.
Kirstin J.H. Brathwaite

Brathwaite Explores Nationalism’s Role in Combat Motivation

JMC Associate Professor Kirstin J.H. Brathwaite’s new book, Symbols and Sacrifice in War, challenges conventional wisdom about military motivation. She argues that soldiers’ commitment to battle depends not just on training or unit bonds, but on whether the war’s goals align with their deepest beliefs about national identity.
Announcements
Luedtke Awarded 2026 NEOGEN Land Grant Prize
Michigan State University doctoral student Christian Luedtke has been awarded the 2026 NEOGEN Land Grant Prize, which recognizes graduate student research with the potential to advance scientific discovery while creating economic impact through practical applications.
Flint Awards Highest Civic Honor to MSU's Mona Hanna
MSU’s Mona Hanna received a key to the city of Flint in recognition of her transformative impact on public health and child advocacy.
Henry Ford + MSU Innovation Fund Announces First Investments
The Henry Ford + MSU Innovation Fund has made its first investments, supporting two early-stage companies developing technologies to improve diagnosis, treatment and patient care.
Nwando Achebe Elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society
MSU historian Nwando Achebe has been elected a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, recognizing her outstanding contributions to historical scholarship and African history.
FRIB Receives Genesis Mission Award for AI-Powered Research
FRIB and Argonne National Laboratory received a Genesis Mission Phase I award to develop artificial intelligence tools that could transform how heavy-ion accelerators and isotope separators are operated.
FRIB's Witek Nazarewicz Elected Foreign Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences
FRIB chief scientist Witek Nazarewicz receives one of Poland’s highest scientific honors for his contributions to nuclear physics.