AgBioResearch

Michigan State University AgBioResearch leaders launched the Growing Healthy Together Initiative in 2026, a new grants program designed to bring together MSU scientists from across campus and partners to solve complex health challenges through transdisciplinary research. The initiative furthers AgBioResearch’s commitment to integrated science that supports agriculture, community resilience, environmental sustainability, food systems, health and nutrition.

The inaugural request for proposals was released to MSU researchers in early 2026 that would support a maximum of three projects, which are funded for two years, and granted $100,000 each.

The Growing Healthy Together Initiative targets a variety of health challenges across the human, animal, plant and environmental spectrum, from soil health and water quality to nutrition, chronic disease and food access. Coupled with clinical expertise from an external partner, Henry Ford Health, in addition to nutrition education and improved food access, the program seeks to offer usable strategies that can be delivered directly to communities.

Funded projects must have a clear benefit to the state of Michigan and address one or more objectives, including:

• Integrating food, animal and crop agriculture, and human health.
• Promoting environmental health and climate resilience.
• Strengthening community well-being and food access.
• Enhancing integration across MSU research, teaching and Extension.

Principal investigators (PI) must be MSU faculty members, and at least one co-PI must be a faculty member in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources or supported by AgBioResearch.

Cross-college teams are strongly preferred, and researchers are encouraged to include outside partners such as clinicians, community stakeholders, health systems professionals and nongovernmental organization representatives.

Growing Healthy Together Funded Projects — 2026

• Wei Liao, Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering (PI): Integrating Hospital Food Waste Valorization with Urban Agriculture to Advance Community Food Systems and Environmental Health in Detroit.
  
  
• Jenifer Fenton, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (PI): The Urban Health Pipeline: Growing Detroit’s Future Leaders in Food and Medical Careers.
  
  
• Chunqi Qian, Department of Radiology (PI): Natural and low-cost milk extracts for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementia.