Initiative targets a variety of health challenges, from soil health and water quality to nutrition, chronic disease and food access
Michigan State University (MSU) AgBioResearch leaders have announced the launch of the Growing Healthy Together Initiative.
The initiative is a grants programme designed to bring together MSU scientists from across campus and partners to solve complex health challenges through transdisciplinary research.
It is designed to further AgBioResearch’s commitment to integrated science that supports agriculture, community resilience, environmental sustainability, food systems, health and nutrition.
A request for proposals was released to MSU researchers in mid-February.
A maximum of three projects, which are funded for two years, will be granted US$100,000 each, with awards announced in early June.
AgBioResearch Director George Smith said the programme aligns well with the broader university focus on ’One Team, One Health’, which promotes research, teaching and outreach that recognises the interrelated nature of human, animal, plant and environmental health.
“The Growing Healthy Together Initiative strengthens our partnerships across the university to foster innovation that addresses some of the most significant health challenges we face,” Smith said.
“One of MSU’s greatest assets is the collaboration across campus and with our tremendous external partners.
”No single discipline or organisation can take on problems with food production, health or community vitality alone,” he noted.
”We must engage with our communities directly, and frameworks such as the Growing Healthy Together Initiative and One Team, One Health allow us to do just that.”
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.
Smith said such problems require innovative solutions that employ leading-edge technology.
For example, new projects will build upon and expand efforts led by MSU researchers to explore precision agriculture tools such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence-based systems for crop and soil management, and energy-efficient irrigation systems.
Coupled with clinical expertise from an external partner, Henry Ford Health, in addition to nutrition education and improved food access, the programme seeks to offer usable strategies that can be delivered directly to communities.
“Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University are proving what One Team, One Health really means: When MSU’s integrated science across agriculture, the environment and nutrition joins forces with Henry Ford’s clinical expertise, we don’t just study problems,” said Scott Dulchavsky, chief executive officer of the Henry Ford Innovation Institute.
“We deliver practical solutions that improve health, strengthen communities and advance Michigan’s future.”
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; and 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 organisation representatives.
“One of the hallmarks of AgBioResearch and the Growing Healthy Together Initiative is the collaborations that lead to tangible benefits for Michigan and beyond,” said AgBioResearch associate director Kang Xia, who leads the request for proposals process.
“Solving grand challenges through delivering effective, impactful solutions requires input from internal and external partners.
”We’re looking for projects that address the most relevant problems, so partner voices need to be heard,” Xia added.
