Shared Research Infrastructure Awards Announced | Office of Research and Innovation

Jan 10, 2025

The Office of Research and Innovation (OR&I) is pleased to announce the first Shared Research Infrastructure Program awards. The awards support one-time, non-recurring purchases or investments in specialized research infrastructure that support and advance cutting-edge research at MSU. Two awards allow the expansion of existing databases unique to MSU, and two awards will purchase equipment to increase scientific capability across campus:

Expansion of the MSU Twin Registry, a unique database of health, behavioral and environmental data on thousands of twins.
Enabling online accessibility of the RS&GIS Historic Aerial Imagery Archive, the largest repository of historic aerial imagery for Michigan.
Acquisition of a new 200kV transmission electron microscope/scanning transmission electron microscope (TEM/STEM).
Acquisition of a Bruker MiniSpec LF90II, a non-invasive body composition analyzer that uses nuclear magnetic resonance to measure fat, lean mass, and fluid in rats, mice, organs, and biopsies.

“To advance our research infrastructure, we need to understand where investment opportunities are and the SRIP program allows us to do just that. We want to have the maximum impact for as many researchers and students as we can to continue advancing innovative research for the long term at MSU. From geography to health to engineering, this first round of SRIP awards will impact a broad range of researchers on campus.” – Kay Connelly, Associate VP for Research

OR&I has been conducting a comprehensive review of campus research infrastructure, which included a call for proposals for the new Shared Research Infrastructure Program (SRIP). The SRIP program was created to advance MSU’s research priorities by making strategic investment decisions that best enable cutting-edge research. It will be funded through existing budget allocations to OR&I made possible through the generosity of the MSU Research Foundation. Moving forward, this standardized process will occur twice a year, allowing for more long-term strategic planning and budgeting to meet the many needs across campus. Applications are reviewed by a cross-campus committee, with Senior Fellows for Research Infrastructure in OR&I, Patricia Soranno and Jeffrey MacKeigan, currently running the program.

The first group of proposals were due October 2024 with funding announced in December. The next round of submissions is due on February 15, 2025, with a funding announcement in April. For more information and how to apply for funding, please see the Shared Research Infrastructure Program webpage.

Summaries about the winning proposals are below.

Michigan State University Twin Registry

PIs: Alex Burt & Kelly Klump, Department of Psychology, College of Social Science

This award is for the expansion of the Michigan State University Twin Registry (MSUTR), which is a large-scale, population-based registry of twins and their families, designed to facilitate both immediate research and long-term subject recruitment. By continuously gathering health, behavioral, and environmental data on thousands of twins, the MSUTR enables MSU faculty and outside collaborators to efficiently identify and recruit participants for new projects, especially for low-prevalence conditions that are otherwise difficult to study. This resource has already supported over a dozen research groups on and off campus, generated over 200 publications and helped secure 48 funded grants totaling more than $46 million. The MSUTR will continue to serve as a unique, cost-effective platform that fosters innovative research, strengthens grant competitiveness, and enhances MSU’s reputation as a leader in understanding the biological and environmental factors that shape human health and development.

Online Mapping Application for the RS&GIS Historic Aerial Archive

PI: Robert Goodwin, Remote Sensing & GIS Services, College of Social Science

This award is to develop a user-friendly tool for researchers to access the RS&GIS Historic Aerial Imagery Archive, which is a vast collection of over 300,000 historical aerial photographs of Michigan and select regions beyond, dating back to the 1930s. These images, many taken in pairs for 3D viewing, document a century of environmental, agricultural, urban, and shoreline changes. By developing a user-friendly, online map-based tool, researchers, students, and the public will be able to easily explore and download high-quality images, track landscape changes over time, and uncover insights into issues like pollution, habitat loss, and urban expansion. In addition to supporting MSU’s academic goals and research programs, the Archive will serve as a key resource for a variety of external users—including government agencies, engineering firms, and the public—ultimately improving understanding of Michigan’s past and guiding better decisions for its future.

Acquisition of a 200kV TEM/STEM for Advanced Materials Characterization in the Physical Sciences

PI: Martin Crimp, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, College of Engineering

This award will support critical advancements in the physical sciences through the acquisition of a state-of-the-art transmission electron microscope/scanning transmission electron microscope (TEM/STEM). This cutting-edge instrument will bolster research across a wide range of disciplines, including electronic materials, space electronics, nanostructures, structural materials, thermoelectrics, battery materials, polymers, geological materials, and advanced coatings. The TEM/STEM will also play a vital role in graduate education. Integrated into ongoing courses, the instrument will provide hands-on learning opportunities for students. Additionally, it will enhance programs such as engineering summer programs for high school students, which have a proven track record of inspiring young learners to pursue careers in STEM fields. By expanding the scope of research, enriching educational experiences, and engaging future scientists, this instrument will drive innovation and discovery while promoting broader participation in STEM disciplines.

Bruker MiniSpec LF90II for Body Composition Analysis

PI: Gina Leinninger, Department of Physiology, College of Natural Science

This award supports the acquisition of the Bruker MiniSpec LF90II, a cutting-edge non-invasive body composition analyzer. This technology enables precise measurement of fat, lean mass, and fluid in rats, mice, tissues, and biopsies without the need for anesthesia, providing quick and accurate data with minimal impact on study animals. The LF90II will drive research in nutrition, metabolism, and obesity by allowing longitudinal assessments critical for understanding diet, genetic, and pharmaceutical interventions. Unlike traditional methods, this system accommodates larger samples, enhancing experimental design, data quality, and accessibility for MSU researchers. With analysis times in minutes, the LF90II supports high-impact studies and strengthens grant applications, advancing MSU's leadership in health sciences research.