AgBio Awardees
The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Innovation Hub for AgBio translates research into the commercial market by way of a license or startup.
Accelerating commercial development, eligible MTRAC AgBio research relates to food, fuel & fiber, either as inputs or outputs. This includes bio-derived/bio-based materials, natural resources and animal health. Projects will have shown promise in the laboratory, but need further development to become successful in a competitive market.
Below, awardees are listed by year and award type (Full/Starter).
2020 Full & Starter Grants
| AWARDEE | INSTITUTION | Project information | TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albrecht, John | Michigan State University | Electrochemical Destruction of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances Using Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes: Application Towards Laboratory-Scale Treatment of Ion Exchange Regenerate Solutions and Reverse Osmosis Concentrates | Full |
| Benjamin, Madonna | Michigan State University | Implement and Evaluate Product Fit for a Biometric-based Computer Vision Systems for Identifying Individual Body Conformation and Locomotion Patterns | Full |
| Bonito, Gregory | Michigan State University | Developing Biofiltration System with Fungal-Filters to Harvest Microalgae for High-Value Products | Full |
| Fan, Qi Hua | Michigan State University | Active Adsorption Technology for Efficiently Removing PFAS in Water | Full |
| Song, Guo-qing | Michigan State University | Production of Fast-Growing Maize for High-Yield Utilizing K-Domain Technology | Full |
| Li, Hui | Michigan State University | Development of Innovative Nano-Reactor Technology for Rapid and Complete Defluorination of PFAS | Starter |
| Rabnawaz, Muhammad | Michigan State University | Plastic-free Thermally Sealable Paper Substrates for Packaging Applications | Starter |
| Swain, Greg | Michigan State University | Identifying Infectious Bacteria in Animal Wounds Using Electrochemical Detection of Metabolites | Starter |
2019 Full & Starter Grants
| AWARDEE | INSTITUTION | Project information | TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar-Ziv, Ezra | Michigan Technological University | Chlorine Removal from Plastic Wastes | Full |
| Hussey, Gisella Maes, Roger |
Michigan State University | Design and Testing of a New Generation of Herpesvirus Vaccines Using a Novel Vaccine Development System | Full |
| Nejad, Mojgan | Michigan State University | Development of High-Performance, Lignin-Based Polyurethane Adhesive for Engineered Wood Products | Full |
| Rabnawaz, Muhammad | Michigan State University | New Generation Plastic-Free, Fluorine-Free and 100% Recyclable Paper Cups, Lids, Plates and Fast-Food Wrappers | Full |
| Aliakbarian, Bahar | Michigan State University | Creating Incremental Revenue from Industrial Cherry Wastes | Starter |
| Bonito, Gregory | Michigan State University | Developing Fungal-Filters to Harvest Microalgae for High-Value Products | Starter |
| Bowen, Li | Michigan Technological University | Upcycling of Vermiculite Fines as Animal Feed Additives | Starter |
| Fan, Qi Hua | Michigan State University | Electrophoresis Technology for Removing Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Water | Starter |
| Jayaraman, Krishnamurthy | Michigan State University | Transparent High-Barrier Films for Food Packaging | Starter |
| Pennington, Dennis | Michigan State University | Research to Determine Agronomic Inputs Needed to Market New Wheat Lines from the MSU Wheat Breeding and Research Programs | Starter |
| Schuelke, Thomas | Michigan State University | Electrochemical Destruction of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances Using Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes: Application Towards Concentrated Regenerate Solutions | Starter |
| Vargas, Joseph | Michigan State University | Turfgrass Disease Management with Reduced Fungicide Application Rates Using Fungitoxic Adjuvants | Starter |
2018 Full & Starter Grants
| Awardee | Institution | Project information | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar-Ziv, Ezra | Michigan Technological University | Bio-Oil as a Feedstock in a Petroleum Refinery | Full |
| Brandizzi, Federica | Michigan State University | Implementation of a single-modifier strategy to enhance biomass and productivity of soybean and alfalfa for commercialization | Full |
| Douches, David | Michigan State University | Evaluating the Commercial Value of XERICO Drought Tolerance Technology for Cultivated Potato | Full |
| Fan, Qi Hua | Michigan State University | High-Density Plasma Technologies for Efficient Manufacturing of Activated Carbon | Full |
| Jayaraman, Krishnamurthy | Michigan State University | Transparent High-Barrier Films with BOPP for Food Packaging | Full |
| Warner, Ryan | Michigan State University | Improved stevia varieties with desirable steviol glycoside profiles | Full |
| Wise, John | Michigan State University | Biodegradable Controlled‐Release Plug for Protecting Tree Crops from Disease and Insect Pests | Full |
| Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan, Vilma | Michigan State University | Novel Animal Cancer Therapeutic Development: Route development and toxicity studies | Full |
| Ding, Shi‐You | Michigan State University | Modification of Cellulose Synthesis Genes to Improve Cotton Fiber Quality | Starter |
| Ducat, Daniel | Michigan State University | "Engineered Microbial Consortia for Light-Driven Production of Sustainable Bioplastics" |
Starter |
| Markovitz, David | University of Michigan | "DEK aptamer for the treatment of equine acute and chronic joint inflammation" |
Starter |
| Martinez-Gomez, Norma Cecilia | Michigan State University | "Community identification of the rare earth dependent plant probiotic, an efficient biostimulant for plant growth" | Starter |
| Rabnawaz, Muhammad | Michigan State University | Low cost high barrier bottles for beer and juice packaging | Starter |
| Saffron, Christopher | Michigan State University | Valorization of BTG Bio-oils using Electrocatalysis | Starter |
2017 Full & Starter Awards
| Awardee | Institution | Project information | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balan, Ven | Michigan State University | Ammonia Treatment and Extraction Processes for Enhanced Brewers Spent Grain Fractionation | Full |
| Brandizzi, Federica | Michigan State University | Translational research steps toward commercialization of single-modifier strategy for plant biomass and productivity enhancement | Full |
| Clack, Herek | University of Michigan | Development and Testing of a Prototype Non-Thermal Plasma Device to Prevent Airborne Transmission of Infectious Diseases to and from Livestock | Full |
| Douches, David | Michigan State University | Characterizing Commercial Value of XERICO Drought Tolerance Technology for Cultivated Potato | Full |
| Keathley, Dan | Michigan State University | Commercializing Elite Silver Maple for Biomass/Biofuel Production | Full |
| Saffron, Christopher | Michigan State University | Production of High Added Value Products from the Pyrolytic Bio-oil | Full |
| Balan, Ven | Michigan State University | Making nutritious protein crisp a successful commercial product | Starter |
| Benning, Christoph | Michigan State University | Enhancing seed oil content by seed-specific manipulation of chloroplast lipases and other substrates | Starter |
| Fan,Qi Hua | Michigan State University | High-Density-Plasma Assisted Activation of Porous Biochar |
Starter |
| Linz, John | Michigan State University | Natural products from medicinal plants to block aflatoxin synthesis and sporulation in Aspergillus | Starter |
| Smith, Pat | Michigan State University | Development of a delivery system for organic acids as miticides for Varroa control | Starter |
| Song, Guo-qing | Michigan State University | Utilizing a K-domain Gene to Increase Crop Yield - Stage I: Production of trangenic Corn and Soybean T1 Seeds | Starter |
| Warner, Ryan | Michigan State University | Improved stevia varieties with desirable steviol glycoside profiles | Starter |
| Wise, John | Michigan State University | Biodegradable Slow-Release Plug for Protecting Tree Crops from Disease and Insect Pests | Starter |