The Colleges of Communication Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Nursing at Michigan State University collaborate to produce the Trifecta Initiative: a winning partnership of three innovative colleges. With support and investment from all three colleges, the Office of the Provost, and the Office of Research and Innovation, Trifecta is a launchpad for interdisciplinary development of innovative computing and communication technologies to improve healthcare and address health disparities.
The Trifecta Initiative Facilitating Fund (TIFF) Awards are designed to provide investigators from the Trifecta Initiative colleges with resources towards federally funded NIH or NSF proposals and is intended for targeted data collection and/or statistical consultations and analysis of existing data. Other expenditures towards finalizing an NIH or NSF proposal could include such things as visits with an NIH or NSF program officer, publication costs, or travel costs for conferences.
Recent years have seen significant success in the strength of the Trifecta program. Focusing on the larger external funding opportunities these projects evolve into, including utilizing available grant writing resources, has improved the quality and success of external proposals.
The Office of Research and Innovation takes pride in supporting faculty members engaged in projects that encourage interdisciplinary research and promote health equity. Congratulations to the following faculty awarded Trifecta grants for Spring 2025.
Spring 2025 Funded Projects
Development and pilot-testing of child-friendly MM-based-MI learning modules on the CIAS platform
PI: Tsui-Sui Annie Kao – College of Nursing
ChatBond: Assess Trust and Relationship Building in Human-AI Interactions with Chat Log and Experience Sampling Data
PI: Wei Peng – College of Communication Arts and Sciences
Exploring How Family Communication Patterns Influence Intention to Avoid THC-Infused Drinks
PI: Mengyan Ma – College of Communication Arts and Sciences
Developing image-based AI models to support heart failure self-care.
PI: Navid Yazdi – College of Engineering