Office of Research and Innovation Leadership Team

Douglas A. Gage, Ph.D.

Vice President

Administrative Support: Jamie Flanagan, for appointments please email vprappts@msu.edu
Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: gage@msu.edu
All contacts: Office of Research and Innovation

Doug Gage currently serves as the Vice President for Research and Innovation, where he oversees strategic initiatives and support for the university’s research enterprise and $710 million in annual research expenditures. He is also a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

The Office of Research and Innovation supports MSU’s research and creative activity by administering research funding, ensuring research integrity for both faculty and students, providing grant support services, fostering collaboration, technology transfer and commercialization, and overseeing regulatory compliance.

Trained as a plant biochemist and a researcher for more than 30 years, Dr. Gage’s research focused on analytical biochemistry and the metabolic engineering of plant biochemical pathways. Mid-career, he leveraged this expertise to serve as the senior director leading the Discovery biomarker effort at Pfizer Global Research and Development in Ann Arbor for six years before rejoining MSU. Today, he remains active with the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization Hub, and the Board of the Corewell (Spectrum Health)-MSU Research Alliance. 

Gage's additional leadership roles include serving as co-chair of the research implementation work group of the MSU Strategic Plan 2030, and as research chair for the new partnership with Henry Ford Health. He also sits on the board of the MSU Research Foundation, the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR) in Cerro Pachón, Chile, and several MSU governance groups including the executive space committee and the Century Bond steering committee.

Along with fostering collaboration, excellence and integrity in research, he continues to lead the Global Impact Initiative at MSU, an aggressive plan to recruit more than 100 faculty researchers in exciting new areas including advanced physical science, precision health, plant resilience, autonomous vehicles, and more.

John Albrecht, Ph.D.

Executive Director - University Research Organization

Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: uro@msu.edu

Douglas Buhler, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Food, Environment, and International Programs

Administrative Support: Jamie Flanagan, for appointments please email vprappts@msu.edu
Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: buhler@msu.edu

Charles "Lee" Cox, Ph.D.

Research Integrity Officer

The Research Integrity Officer reports directly to the President with secondary responsibility to the Vice President for Research and Innovation.

Phone: 517-432-6698
Email: RIO@msu.edu

Brooke Gallagher-Rademacher

Budget Officer & Office Manager

Responsible for MAU budgets, University Research Organization (URO) oversight, and Research and Innovation office operations.

Phone: 517-355-0306

Email: galla106@msu.edu

Charles A. Hasemann, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development

Administrative Support: Marta Sinclair
Phone: 517-884-2370
Email: haseman1@msu.edu

J.R. Haywood, Ph.D.

Assistant Vice President - Office of Research and Innovation

Administrative Support: Jamie Flanagan, for appointments please email vprappts@msu.edu
Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: haywoo12@msu.edu

Melanie Kauffman, MBA

Senior Communications Manager

Responsible for all communications for the Office of Research and Innovation including annual reports, newsletters, talking points and presentations, web content, and event promotion. Please also contact Melanie for assistance with web accessibility or accommodation for attending an event.

Phone: 517-884-0099

Email: kauffm59@msu.edu

Laura McCabe, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Research Regulatory Support

Administrative Support: Sherry Wassner
Phone: 517-432-4500
Email: mccabel@msu.edu

Twila Reighley, MBA

Associate Vice President for Sponsored Programs

The Associate Vice President for Sponsored Programs Administration reports to both the Vice President for Research and Innovation and the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer.

Administrative Support: Raeann Hagen-Davis
Phone: 517-884-4367
Email: reighley@msu.edu

Irving Vega, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Translational Neuroscience
Academic Leadership Fellow 2022-2023

Phone: 517-355-0306
Email: vegaie@msu.edu