Tag: hri

Michigan Tech Receives NIH T32 Grant in Health-Integrated Technologies

NIH has officially awarded Michigan Tech University a T32 grant in Health-Integrated Technologies!

This achievement represents years of collaborative effort from faculty, staff, and institutional leaders who worked to secure this highly competitive award. The T32 program will strengthen Michigan Tech’s role as a national leader in health-integrated research and education, while expanding opportunities for graduate students to engage in interdisciplinary, hands-on training.

T32 Program Information

Students, faculty, and community members can find application forms, eligibility requirements, program flyers, and preceptor information on the HRI T32 Webpage.


Picture of labs inside the H-STEM building.

About the Health Research Institute

The mission of the Health Research Institute is to establish and maintain a thriving environment that promotes translational, interdisciplinary, and increasingly convergent health-related research and inspires education and outreach activities. Currently HRI has 58 members, 14 different collaborative departments, 6 full-time staff, and has received over $6 million in research expenditures.

To learn more about the Health Research Institute check out our website.

About Michigan Tech

Michigan Technological University is an R1 flagship technological research university founded in 1885. Our campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. To learn more about Michigan Technological University, check out their website.

Michigan Tech Welcomes Dr. Bapi Pahar as New Senior Research Scientist

The Health Research Institute (HRI) at Michigan Technological University is delighted to announce the hiring of Dr. Bapi Pahar as a new senior research scientist. He will be co-located with Michigan State in the Doug Meijer Innovation Center in Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Pahar, an immunologist with extensive experience in infectious disease and vaccine development, is the first hire for the Translational Health Engineering Research Center (THERC), whose goal is to bolster the university’s growing health-focused research initiatives.

Dr. Pahar received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) and Ph.D. in Virology. He also holds an M.B.A. with a specialization in entrepreneurship. His distinguished career includes over 17 years at Tulane University, where he served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He has also held positions at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and authored over 80 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Pahar join our team,” said HRI’s Executive Director, Dr. Caryn Heldt. “His deep expertise in immunology and infectious disease aligns perfectly with THERC’s mission to accelerate research that improves health outcomes. His work will be invaluable as we continue to build a Michigan Tech presence in West Michigan and connect our engineering and science strengths with the Grand Rapids region’s robust health community.”

Dr. Pahar expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “This is a fantastic chance to bolster and promote biomedical research in partnership with Michigan State University, other academic entities, healthcare providers, and industry collaborators by developing and implementing cutting-edge medical solutions”.

In his new role, Dr. Pahar will focus on leveraging his expertise in mucosal immunology, vaccine development, and data analytics for immunological evaluation. His research is expected to create new opportunities for collaboration between Michigan Tech and MSU, Corewell Health, and other biomedical companies and entities in the Grand Rapids area.

“Dr. Pahar brings world-class immunological research to Michigan Tech to enhance the work we are already doing in this area,” says Dr. Andrew Barnard, Vice President for Research. “His cross-disciplinary expertise in entrepreneurship is an exciting opportunity for THERC to bridge the gap between basic research and applied solutions in the healthcare marketplace.”


bapi pahar new annoucement welcome message