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News

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MSU Connects Change in DNA to Cleft Palate Phenomenon

Cleft lip and cleft palate are some of the most common birth defects in people, affecting roughly one in every 700 babies in the world. Researchers have identified a likely culprit: a change in DNA variant near a specific gene.
Student writes with pen on graph paper

Highlighting the Negative Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Special Education Students in Michigan

Researchers at Michigan State University’s College of Education published a new study exploring learning gaps for students with disabilities and especially for those who are Black, Asian, and economically disadvantaged students — with the 2019-21 school years showing staggering declines in identifying students who could benefit from special education.
A graphic of the Earth in deep space

Bringing Dark Comets to Light

Darryl Seligman, a postdoctoral fellow in the College of Natural Science’s top-ranked Department of Physics and Astronomy, is the lead author on a paper that uncovers seven new dark comets in our solar system.
A graphic of immune cells

Reprogramming Immune Cells to Decrease Rejection of Medical Implants

When it comes to medical implants, Michigan State University researchers have discovered that using a drug that is a metabolic inhibitor performs like an opening act and makes the body more receptive to medical devices such as pacemakers, replacement joints and dental implants.
Two people reviewing an ultrasound picture

Worried About a Pregnant Woman’s Stress and Mental Health? Her Saliva May Hold the Key

New research out of Michigan State University found that the number and type of microbes present in the saliva of pregnant women differ according to whether they are experiencing life stress and symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Aphids on a plant

Uncovering Plant Resistance Through Aphids Saliva

Aphids are small yet mighty. In the right conditions, these tiny creatures can be among the most destructive insect pests to crops and cultivated plants, making understanding aphids’ feeding process crucial to the plant health field.
An aerial view of a city

Using Brain Activity to Predict Visits to Urban Areas

Researchers from Michigan State University are the first to measure brain activity to make predictions that could help inform enhanced urban planning and design that addresses the well-being of residents and visitors.
A research station in Antartica

MSU Team Helping Unlock Cosmic Mysteries in Antarctica

Roughly a year from now, scientists at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory will begin deploying more than 400 multi-photomultiplier digital optical modules, or mDOMS, deep inside a 1 billion-ton block of ice at the South Pole as part of the IceCube Upgrade — a feat powered in part by the work of a team from Michigan State University.
Announcements
Seed Grants Nurture New Directions & Collaborations Campus Wide
MSU’s Ecology, Evolution and Behavior program awarded seed grants to 12 interdisciplinary research teams, providing early funding to help launch innovative projects and secure future external research support across fields ranging from AI to conservation and public health.
Ren and Shipley Named Guggenheim Fellows
Two MSU professors have been named 2026 Guggenheim Fellows: Xuefei Ren, a professor of sociology in the College of Social Science, and Lara Shipley, assistant professor of photography in the College of Arts and Letters’ Department of Art, Art History and Design.

Michigan State University Advances One Health Research at Summit
This faculty-based initiative brought together more than 600 researchers to shape interdisciplinary pathways and position MSU as a national leader in One Health.
Research Foundation Announces New Rosenberg Center Headquarters
The MSU Research Foundation is investing $20 million in the new Rosenberg Center, a campus hub that will bring together startups, researchers, investors and industry partners to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship.
Frank Honored for Advances in Sociological Methods
MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor Kenneth Frank received the American Sociological Association’s Paul F. Lazarsfeld Award for pioneering contributions to sociological research methods.
Woodruff Earns Election to Two of the World’s Most Prestigious Scholarly Societies
Woodruff has been elected to the Royal Society and the American Philosophical Society, recognizing her groundbreaking work in reproductive biology and fertility preservation research.