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News

Federal Government Shutdown Updates

A federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025. Federally funded projects may experience delays in communication, funding actions, and approvals. Please refer to the Sponsored Programs Administrion office for guidance. learn more
Man releasing a wood pecker

On a Florida Bombing Range, Endangered Woodpeckers Get a Second Chance

Florida’s Avon Park Air Force Range is teeming with life. Over 40 at-risk species occupy the 106,000-acre expanse used by the military for training exercises — including bombardments. But Spartan scientists are using the range to test something other than weapons: innovative strategies to save threatened species.
Man pointing to presentation

Osteopathic Medicine Program Makes History As National Interest in D.O.S Grows

The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine has achieved an important milestone, becoming the first osteopathic medical school to be included in the prestigious National Institutes of Health Medical Scientist Training Program, or MSTP.
Ricardo Lorenz

Humboldt’s Nature to Premiere With LA Philharmonic

Commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the newest orchestral work by composer Ricardo Lorenz, Humboldt’s Nature, will premiere at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on February 12, 2026.
A garden of yellow day lilies

Midwestern Butterfly Count: Big Data Yields Bad News and Clues

Three decades of butterfly counts in the Midwest show none of the 136 species studied have increased, with many in decline. Analyzing more than 4.3 million observations, researchers found biodiversity loss across both common and rare species. The results highlight the urgent need for pollinator conservation.
American flag

Study Shows Consumer Confusion Over ‘Made in USA’ Labels

A new study from advertising and public relations researchers at Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences digs deeper into consumer attitudes, perceptions and behaviors of “Made in USA” claims. Published in the Journal of Law, Business and Ethics, it is only the second peer-reviewed study to explore what “Made in USA” claims mean to consumers.
A man reading story to child

Study Finds Print Wins Over Digital for Preschoolers Learning to Read

New findings from Michigan State University researchers suggest that some popular approaches for learning may not be as practical as parents think. Preschoolers who played more literacy games scored lower on reading assessments, while those engaged in print-focused activities saw the most significant gains.
Scientist pipetting in lab

Nanomedicine and AI Uncover Rare Biomarkers for Early Disease Detection

A Precision Health team has combined nanomedicine, artificial intelligence and causal analysis to uncover rare biomarkers for prostate cancer and heart disease. This breakthrough is the first to directly connect these biological clues to disease. The approach could transform early detection and open the door to more personalized treatments.
Scientist collecting bee pollin

Buzz-Worthy: Spartan Research Saves the Bees

A new $12 million program will tackle nutrient runoff in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Funded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the initiative uses a performance-based approach to improve water quality. Partners will work with farmers to target conservation where it delivers the greatest impact.
Announcements
Applications Open for the BioInnovation Institute and Science Prize for Innovation
Through the BioInnovation Institute & Science Prize for Innovation, the editors of Science seek to recognize bold researchers who are asking fundamental questions at the intersection of the life sciences and entrepreneurship. We seek scientists who can show that they have reached across field boundaries with an enthusiasm that combines outstanding basic science with an eye toward application in the marketplace.
MSU Unveils First-Ever Strategy for Shared Research Resources
MSU has unveiled a groundbreaking blueprint to strategically coordinate its shared research resources across campus. Led by the Office of Research & Innovation and shaped by 140+ community members, this is the university’s first unified plan to enhance access, visibility, and efficiency of its many research resources, everything from labs and tech, to field stations and high-performance computing.
Sustaining Spartan Research: The Jenison Fund Impact
The Jenison Fund, a strategic endowment established to support disruptions in research funding, is accepting applications for its second round of funding through November 17, 2025.
Williams Receives NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine researcher Michael R. Williams, has received the National Institutes of Health Director’s Transformative Research Award.
Pollanen and Singh Awarded Moore Foundation Grants to Advance Quantum Science, Fundamental Physics
Michigan State University physicists work every day to advance quantum computing and help unravel the mysteries of the universe. Now, two are receiving private $1.3 million five-year grants that will further launch their research and give them more opportunities to collaborate.
The Future of Health Forum Highlights AI's Impact on Precision Medicine
Interdisciplinary leaders gathered in Grand Rapids to discuss the future of AI in healthcare.