News Releases

Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 21, 2024 – For 17 years, Corewell Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine have funded more than $27 million in exploratory and developmental research projects that have brought together the clinical and scientific strengths of both institutions.

Now, that partnership, known as the Alliance Corporation, is adding another $1 million to the total with a new round of grant funding that will help advance innovative treatments for patients in the years to come.

The five new projects, each receiving $200,000 in research funding, will begin next year and include:

Role of the HTR3A serotonin receptor in high-grade endometrial cancer

• Goal: To determine the role that serotonin plays in uterine cancers with a poor prognosis and whether drugs that target serotonin can affect the growth of these cancers
• Principal Investigators: Gregory Gressel, M.D., Corewell Health, and John Risinger, Ph.D., MSU College of Human Medicine

Deep brain stimulation for autism spectrum disorder

• Goal: To test if deep brain stimulation using light stimuli in parts of the brain controlling memory and learning improves hippocampal function at the cellular, network and behavioral levels
• Principal Investigators: Mike Bercu, M.D., Corewell Health, and Lucas Pozzo-Miller, Ph.D., MSU College of Human Medicine

The role of immune system genetics, the MTOR pathway and precision treatments in cardiac sarcoidosis

• Goal: To generate human data on a disorder of the immune system that impacts heart function while developing a mouse model to test new drug approaches to prevent impact on the heart
• Principal Investigators: Nagib Chalfoun, M.D., Corewell Health, and Daniel Vogt, Ph.D., MSU College of Human Medicine

Radiomic biomarkers for patients with small renal masses

• Goal: To develop biological markers using X-ray or other radiographic technologies that will help predict the behavior of small kidney tumors
• Principal Investigators: Emerson Lim, M.D., Corewell Health, and Adam Alessio, Ph.D., MSU

Oxygenating living biomimetic bandage for the treatment of refractory chronic wounds

• Goal: To develop a living bandage that can deliver non-embryonic stem cells and oxygen to treat experimental wounds and accelerate healing
• Principal Investigators: Drue Orwig, D.O., Corewell Health, and Nureddin Ashammakhi, Ph.D., MSU

“The true mission of the Alliance is to enhance collaboration between physicians and scientists that normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to work together,” said Surender Rajasekaran, M.D., medical director of research at Corewell Health in Grand Rapids and associate professor at MSU College of Human Medicine. “The Alliance allows us to fund the more unique and really cool projects, too -- projects that typically wouldn’t be funded by federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health.”

Over the last five years, the Alliance has seen considerable growth in applications as well as significant improvement in the quality of research collaborations due to a complete restructuring of its funding mechanism and criteria.

“There are windows of time where grants can be submitted and all submissions are reviewed by a panel of experts to validate scientific merit, scope and likelihood of achieving the goals stated,” said Darryl Elmouchi, M.D., and chief operating officer of Corewell Health. “Ultimately, the many applications per period are weighed against one another and a select few are chosen. For those that aren't chosen, we give detailed feedback to better future applications.

The partnership has also seen progress in helping to attract top talent to the Grand Rapids area. Since its inception, the Alliance has helped recruit and support 17 new scientists or physicians from across the world.

“The innovation the Alliance brings to the Medical Mile in Grand Rapids continues to deliver incredible results,” said Aron Sousa, M.D., dean of MSU College of Human Medicine. “From obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology to digging deeper into the causes of autism and healing chronic wounds, the Alliance allows the brightest minds to work together on moving research to real life.”

About Corewell Health™ 

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org. 

Media Contacts:

Sarina Gleason: sarina.gleason@corewellhealth.org

Geri Kelley: kelleyg3@msu.edu