Tackling society's Grand Challenges - Division of Research & Innovation - Wayne State University

On Sept. 10, 2025, Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy, president of Wayne State University, and Dr. Ezemenari Obasi, vice president for research & innovation, launched Grand Challenges, Wayne State's new research initiative that tackles today's most urgent global challenges. WSU students, faculty and researchers will continue to discover and develop solutions that improve our world through these four key areas:

Driving Lifelong Health: How do we advance and empower lifelong health through personalized preventative medicine?
Fostering sustainable environments: What critical steps can we take to develop sustainable environments that elevate both our quality and length of life?
Powering innovation with AI: How can we leverage responsible human-AI collaborations to drive discovery, innovation and economic growth?
Revolutionizing smart mobility: How can we develop and deploy smart mobility capabilities into personalized solutions for our rapidly evolving world?

At the event, Dr. Obasi led panel discussions with faculty and external voices to explore these critical topics and highlight how Wayne State, Detroit and the State of Michigan are leading efforts to address society’s Grand Challenges.

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Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan. Home to 13 schools and colleges, Wayne State offers more than 375 academic programs at all levels, from undergraduate to doctorates. The university is committed to accelerating mobility, empowering health and fueling innovation for students and the Detroit region. Through its Grand Challenges initiative, Wayne State research is addressing some of society's most daunting issues — from health disparities and climate change to AI ethics and mobility access.

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