News | Office of Research and Innovation

Hubble telescope image of a low surface brightness galaxy

Halos and Dark Matter: A Recipe for Discovery

About three years ago, Wolfgang “Wolfi” Mittig and Yassid Ayyad went looking for the universe’s missing mass, better known as dark matter, in the heart of an atom.

Zika Evades Early Pregnancy Protections

Michigan State researchers reveal a more complete picture of how sexual transmission of the Zika virus affects early embryo development.

Bacteria Versus Viruses

As antibiotic resistance challenges scientists to find new ways to treat bacterial infections, researchers at Michigan State University have discovered a new way for bacteria to defend themselves against viral infection.

A strip of prairie in the middle of a field.

How Prairies Can Help Farms and Nature

An MSU study 30-plus years in the making shows that converting strips of farmland to prairie brings environmental benefits without sacrificing crop yields.

A Targeted and Personalized Approach to Fighting Cancer

Kurt Zinn and his team are researching and using radioisotopes to help reduce and treat cancer.

Giving Non-Speaking Autistic Individuals a Voice

Mariam Sayed is passionate about using her skills to help underserved francophone populations, and her current research helps autistic individuals communicate.

Immunotherapy Research Sees Promising Results in Shrinking Treatment-Resistant Cancer Tumors

Advancements in cancer research and treatment have resulted in great improvements in survival rates.

Reducing the Amount of Spilled Milk Caused by a Toxin

Researchers at Michigan State University have won a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development to determine what level of aflatoxin M1 is safe to ingest from milk to prevent unnecessary waste.

Announcements

Goodway Named Red Cedar Distinguished Professor

Apr 1, 2025

Internationally recognized scholar Jackie Goodway has been named a Red Cedar Distinguished Professor. Since 2022, the distinction has recognized faculty who demonstrate exemplary scholarly achievement, teaching excellence and a clear alignment with MSU’s strategic research priorities — strengthening recruitment, recognition and retention of top academic talent across campus.

Wu Selected to Co-chair National Academies Committee on Biotechnology

Apr 1, 2025

Felicia Wu, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor and University Distinguished Professor in Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, was selected to serve as co-chair of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, or NASEM, committee on the ethical, legal, environmental, safety, security, and other appropriate societal issues related to engineering biology research and development.

Trifecta Spring 2025 Awardees Announced

Mar 14, 2025

The Trifecta Advisory Council has awarded two award applications for Spring 2025.

2025-26 CIRCLE Seed Grants Request for Proposals

Mar 13, 2025

CIRCLE (Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Collaboration, Learning, and Engagement) is excited to offer seed grants to support three projects in 2025-26. This program aims to provide an opportunity for genuine interdisciplinary collaboration among scholars and educators from different fields and areas of focus. The aim of these grants is to help develop new collaborations. We welcome proposals that focus on teaching and learning, research, or creative practice, and we welcome proposals in which team members are changing course or exploring new areas of inquiry.

2025-26 CIRCLE Graduate Fellowship Call for Applications

Mar 13, 2025

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Collaboration, Learning, and Engagement (CIRCLE) seeks applicants for its second Graduate Fellowship, 2025-26. See below for the fellowship’s description, eligibility requirements, and how to apply. The application deadline is April 4, 2025.

MSU Forges Strategic Partnership to Solve the Mystery of How Planets Are Formed

Mar 5, 2025

Astronomers have long grappled with the question, “How do planets form?” A new collaboration among Michigan State University, Arizona State University and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will seek to answer this question with the help of a powerful telescope and high-performance computers.