Science

New University of Michigan facility handles medical samples

By Associated Press • Jul 9, 2018

A new facility has opened at the University of Michigan to handle diagnostic testing of millions of samples per year including patients' blood, saliva and tissue.

The Michigan Medicine Clinical Pathology facility is located in four former Pfizer buildings in Ann Arbor and received its first patient sample last month.

Samples also include urine, cells and DNA. They come in for testing from University of Michigan clinics and hospitals as well as from around the country.

Spectrum Health participating in NIH's All of Us Research Program

By Patrick Center • May 3, 2018

Wikimedia Commons

Personalizing the management of disease is the goal of National Institutes of Health and partners like Grand Rapids’ Spectrum Health. In its beta test year, NIH has enrolled more than 25,000 underrepresented individuals from across the country into its All of Us Research Program. It aims to enroll another one million in the coming years. The research aims to improve health outcomes.

Hastings dentist claims meteor fragment exploded overhead landing in his fields

By Patrick Center • Jan 18, 2018

A Barry County man claims a fragment of the meteor that penetrated the earth’s atmosphere over Michigan this week – the one with the sonic boom causing an earthquake registering 2.0 on the Richter scale – came down over his head just outside Hastings. WGVU made the drive and trekked the fields in search of its remains.

“Uh, uh…who’d of…50 yards from where it hits and seeing it!”

Stacy Garrison was pulling into his driveway around 8:10 Tuesday evening.

Hauenstein family announces multi-million dollar gift to three West Michigan institutions

By Patrick Center • Dec 11, 2017

gvsu.edu / Grand Valley State University

Ralph D. Hauenstein, the son of philanthropist Ralph W. Hauenstein carried out his late father’s wishes Monday announcing financial gifts to three West Michigan institutions.

“I think his life was exemplary of where he’s placed his fortune. Represented here are the mind, the body and the soul and the health of all three,” said Brian Hauenstein, the Grandson of philanthropist Colonel Ralph W. Hauenstein who passed away in January 2016.

Michigan biologists to study river fish amid chemical fears

By Associated Press • Nov 10, 2017

Biologists with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality are planning to take a second look at fish in the Rogue River due to growing water contamination concerns from nearby tannery dump sites.

The Grand Rapids Press reports that testing from four years ago found elevated levels of toxic industrial chemicals in fish north of the Rockford dam, prompting the state to issue limits to eating those fish in a health advisory.

Researchers question capability of electrical barriers blocking Asian carp entry into Lake Michigan

By Patrick Center • Oct 31, 2017

A scientific manuscript soon to be published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research questions the effectiveness of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal’s electrical barrier preventing Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan.

WGVU spoke with Dr. Alan Steinman about the findings. Steinman is Director of the Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University.

Health premiums to rise 27 percent in Michigan market

By Associated Press • Oct 26, 2017

Premiums will rise an average of 27 percent for the hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents who buy their own health insurance. Consumers eligible for income-based tax credits will be protected from the increasing premiums. The state Department of Insurance and Financial Services published the rates Wednesday. Enrollment for 2018 begins in a week.

Autonomous cars head for the Big Apple

By Associated Press • Oct 18, 2017

Autonomous vehicles are already navigating the verdant hills of Pittsburgh and cruising the pitched avenues of San Francisco. They may soon be tested by the chaos of downtown Manhattan, where pedestrians, taxis, buses and bikes embark daily on an eternal quest to avoid impact.

Michigan State University opens $88 million Grand Rapids Research Center

By Patrick Center • Sep 20, 2017

Michigan State University officially opened its $88 million Grand Rapids Research with a ribbon cutting.

“One, two, three…”

Lead by Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon, a giant green ribbon was cut opening the Medical School’s six-story, nearly 163,000-square-foot Grand Rapids Research Center.

“Imagine people who are thinking about things that we can’t yet imagine. Ideas that may work, they may not. But they’re all about trying to improve the quality of life.”

Fremont biodigester reopens after 2 years

By Associated Press • Sep 14, 2017

A biodigester that turns food scraps into green energy has reopened after shutting down two years ago over financial problems. The new owner, Generate Capital Inc., wants the revamped Fremont Regional Digester to start running at capacity later this fall. The digester is expected to turn 165,000 tons of organic waste a year into enough green energy to power at least 2,500 homes.

The original $22 million plant that opened in 2012 produced energy to power about 1,500 homes annually. Generate Capital is working with Dynamic Systems Management to run the plant.

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