Summary:
On May 19, 2025, four of Mississippi’s leading research universities—Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi—signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing reciprocal access to high-value scientific equipment and core facilities. This agreement allows researchers across institutions to use each other’s advanced instruments and expertise, strengthening the state’s capacity for innovation, efficiency, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Significance:
This collaboration represents a strategic leap in leveraging Mississippi’s collective research infrastructure. By enabling faculty and research staff from any participating institution to access a wide array of specialized equipment—from spectrometers and gene sequencers to atomic force microscopes and super-resolution confocal imaging systems—the agreement removes long-standing barriers to discovery. This initiative is poised to accelerate research in critical areas including health, energy, materials science, and biotechnology.
Impact:
- Encourages cross-campus collaboration and resource sharing. - Reduces redundant capital expenditures across institutions. - Broadens access to instruments critical for cutting-edge research. - Enhances grant competitiveness through multi-institutional partnerships. - Builds a more resilient and integrated research ecosystem in Mississippi.
Contacts:
• Glake Hill, JSU – glakeh@icnanotox.org • Katie Echols, MSU – katie.echols@msstate.edu • Jason Hale, UM – jghale@olemiss.edu • Erica Kennedy, USM – erica.kennedy@usm.edu
Illustrative Image
Gait Real-Time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL) System Surface Electromyography (sEMG) Sensors, Mississippi State University - Athlete Engineering Institute, June 2025