News

Omicron Variant Structure
Research by MSI PI Fang Li (professor, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences) and colleagues has revealed the structure of spike proteins in the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. The differences in this structure from the original coronavirus explain why omicron is so transmissible and why it can get past vaccination protection.
MSI PIs Receive 2022 Research Infrastructure Investment Program Award
Four MSI PIs have received awards from the 2022 Research Infrastructure Investment Program. This Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) program is designed to facilitate interdisciplinary partnerships and strengthen the University’s research infrastructure. OVPR made seven awards this year. Below are the MSI PIs who received awards:
July 2022 Maintenance
On Wednesday, July 6, 2022, MSI staff will perform scheduled maintenance and upgrades to various MSI systems. During this month's scheduled maintenance period, primary storage may be unavailable or in a read-only state throughout much of the day. Mesabi and Mangi front-end nodes will be unavailable some portion of the day. A global system reservation will start at 5:00 a.m. on July 6. Jobs that cannot be completed before 5:00 a.m. on July 6 will be held until after maintenance and then started once the system returns to production status.
MSI PIs Receive 2022 Minnesota Futures Grants
The Office for the Vice President for Research (OVPR) has awarded 2022 Minnesota Futures Grants to two projects. This program offers funding each year to promote research that incorporates new, cross-disciplinary ideas. OVPR granted nearly $500,000 to two projects this year.
Midwest Antiviral Drug Discovery Center Established at U of M
The University of Minnesota is establishing a center to develop antiviral drugs for pandemic-level viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded the U of M a $66 million grant for the new Midwest Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Center, which is part of a national network of nine such centers established by NIAID.
Catalytic Technologies Without Precious Metals
Catalytic converters use precious metals – for example, platinum and palladium – to remove toxins from exhaust because of their unique electronic surface properties. New research published in JACS Au shows that it is possible to electronically convert other metals, ones that are less expensive and rare, so that they mimic those properties. This research could advance energy technologies and reduce reliance on precious metals.
MSI PIs Wilson and Vrieze Receive $4.6 M Grant From National Institute on Drug Abuse
MSIs PI Sylia Wilson (assistant professor, Institute of Child Development (ICD)  ) and Scott Vrieze (associate professor, Psychology) have received a grant of $4.6 million over five years from the national Institute on Drug Abuse.
HPE Features MSI and Agate in Case Study
In a new case study published on their website, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) features MSI researchers and the new supercomputer, Agate. The study highlights the increased computing capability, including GPUs, now available with Agate, and discusses the the wide variety of research being done by MSI users. Jim Wilgenbusch (Director, Research Computing), Graham Allan (MSI's Associate Director for Advanced Systems Operations), and Jim Ferguson (MSI’s Assistant Director for User Services) were interviewed for this case study.
MSI PI Kristin Hogquist Elected to NAS
MSI PI Kristin Hogquist (professor, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology) has been elected to membership of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Membership in this organization is one of the highest honors a scientist can receive. Professor Hogquist uses resources at MSI to study the development of T lymphocytes in the thymus.
May 2022 Maintenance
On Wednesday, May 4, 2022, MSI staff will perform scheduled maintenance and upgrades to various MSI systems. During this month's scheduled maintenance period, primary storage may be unavailable or in a read-only state throughout much of the day. Mesabi and Mangi front-end nodes will be unavailable some portion of the day. A global system reservation will start at 5:00 a.m. on May 4. Jobs that cannot be completed before 5:00 a.m. on May 4 will be held until after maintenance and then started once the system returns to production status.
Clearing Out Senescent Cells
Too many senescent cells - cells that have stopped dividing, but haven’t yet died - can cause an increase in inflammation, which puts a person at higher risk for disease and signs of aging. Certain conditions are associated with an increased number of these cells, and people with these conditions are at greater risk from COVID-19.
How Liquids Erode Hard Materials
MSI PI Xiang Cheng (associate professor, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science) and colleagues have published a study that reveals, for the first time, why liquid droplets can erode hard surfaces. The study, published recently in the journal Nature Communications, uses a novel technique called high-speed stress microscopy to measure force, stress, and pressure underneath liquid drops as they hit surfaces.
Innovation Impact Case Awards 2022
The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) has announced the winners of the first annual Innovation Impact Case Award. This new award recognizes University of Minnesota research that has led to significant impact outside of academia. Two MSI PIs were among the winners of the prize of $10,000:
Combining Engineering and Brain Science to Treat Mental Illness
A story in the Spring 2022 issue of the University of Minnesota Foundation Discovery magazine features research by MSI PI Alik Widge (assistant professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences). Professor Widge, who is a biomedical engineer as well as a clinical psychiatrist, is studying the use of deep brain stimulation as a way to improve mental function in patients with conditions such as severe anxiety.
TeleOutreach Helps Rural Minnesotans With Mental-Health Treatment
A telemedicine program by the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain is featured in the Spring 2022 issue of the University of Minnesota Foundation’s Discovery magazine. The program, called TeleOutreach, is designed to provide timely care to rural Minnesotans, many of whom have limited access to mental-health treatment because of a shortage of providers.
Black Bear Hibernation
Research by MSI PI Paul Iaizzo (professor, Surgery) is featured in a recent story that appeared on WCCO television. Professor Iaizzo is studying the physiology of hibernating black bears in Minnesota. It is possible that discoveries about how bears maintain cardiac function and bone health during the hibernation period could help human patients.
April 2022 Maintenance
On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, MSI staff will perform scheduled maintenance and upgrades to various MSI systems. During this month's scheduled maintenance period, primary storage may be unavailable or in a read-only state throughout much of the day. Mesabi and Mangi front-end nodes will be unavailable some portion of the day. A global system reservation will start at 5:00 a.m. on April 6. Jobs that cannot be completed before 5:00 a.m. on April 6 will be held until after maintenance and then started once the system returns to production status.
MSI PI Recognized by American Association of Swine Veterinarians
MSI PI Montse Torremorell (professor and Interim Chair, Veterinary Population Medicine) has received the Outstanding Swine Academic of the Year award, presented by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV). This is the first year this award has been made. It recognizes an AASV member in academia for excellence in teaching, research, and service to the swine veterinary profession.
Emerald Ash Borer is Impacting Wildlife
A recent story in the University of Minnesota Research Brief series highlights research led MSI PI Dr. Alexis Grinde (Natural Resources Research Institute). The team’s study, published in the journal Ecological Applications, found that black ash wetlands are being irreversibly changed by the infestation of emerald ash borer. Black ash wetlands are a critical habitat for wildlife and are ecologically significant in Minnesota.
2022 Distinguished McKnight University Professors
Three MSI PIs have been named Distinguished McKnight University Professors. This program recognizes outstanding mid-career faculty members who have recently achieved full professor status. The MSI PIs on the list are:

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