Driven by the successful collaboration between Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University, the number of National Cancer Institute (NCI) awards received has tripled since 2021. Together, the institutions have received 44 NCI awards, totaling $44.5 million in funding to support groundbreaking cancer research.
researchers in lab“The synergy between Henry Ford and MSU is the driving force behind this success,” said Benjamin Movsas, M.D., Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences Cancer Committee co-chair, Henry Ford Cancer medical director and radiation oncology chair. “It is our collaboration in resources and ideas that is leading us to breakthroughs and discoveries in cancer research.”
NCI funding has enabled Henry Ford and MSU scientists and institutions to:
- Advance the understanding of the causes and prevention of cancer
- Explore the complexity of the tumor microenvironment
- Develop nanodrugs for the treatment and prevention of cancer
- Improve symptom management during treatment
- Establish cancer screening recruitment sites
The NCI’s mission is to lead, conduct and support cancer research across the nation to advance scientific knowledge and help all people live longer, healthier lives.
“The support and recognition from the NCI are essential for advancing efforts to fight cancer,” said Jeff MacKeigan, Ph.D., Henry Ford + MSU Cancer Committee co-chair and MSU Office of Research and Innovation senior advisor.
MacKeigan, along with Katie Martin, Ph.D., from MSU, and Russell Jones, Ph.D., from Van Andel Research Institute, recently received a $3.6 million NCI award for a lung cancer study that will research how to inhibit the autophagy pathway, a cellular recycling mechanism in cells that enables tumor growth. An impactful aspect of this highly collaborative NCI award is the strong commitment to translating the findings for real impact in the clinic with Shirish Gadgeel, M.D., from Henry Ford.
“Lung cancer is the most diagnosed cancer worldwide, and, in the United Sates, it accounts for over 20% of all cancer-related deaths annually,” shared MacKeigan. “With this NCI funding, we hope our research will help develop new treatment strategies that can significantly improve outcomes for patients battling advanced lung cancer.”
Strategic Internal Funding Drives NCI Momentum
To encourage NCI submissions, the Henry Ford + MSU Cancer Committee has provided funding for collaborative cancer projects aimed at NCI grant applications. This initiative has been carried out through the Henry Ford + MSU Cancer Seed Funding Program.
Introduced in 2022, this partnership program has provided $2.7 million in funding for more than 60 research projects. From tumors to liver cancer, the cancer funding program has supported research that will ultimately improve the lives of patients.
Central to the Henry Ford + MSU partnership’s vision is a commitment to understanding the cancer burden faced by people in Michigan and around the world, as well as finding cures and reducing disparities in cancer outcomes.
More information about the 2026 Henry Ford + MSU Cancer Seed Funding Program will be available later in 2025.