Doug Gage currently serves as the Vice President for Research and Innovation, where he oversees strategic initiatives and support for the university’s research enterprise and $759 million in annual research expenditures. He is also a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
The Office of Research and Innovation supports MSU’s research and creative activity by administering research funding, ensuring research integrity for both faculty and students, providing grant support services, fostering collaboration, technology transfer and commercialization, and overseeing regulatory compliance.
Trained as a plant biochemist and a researcher for more than 30 years, Dr. Gage’s research focused on analytical biochemistry and the metabolic engineering of plant biochemical pathways. Mid-career, he leveraged this expertise to serve as the senior director leading the Discovery biomarker effort at Pfizer Global Research and Development in Ann Arbor for six years before rejoining MSU. Today, he remains active with the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization Hub, and the Board of the Corewell (Spectrum Health)-MSU Research Alliance.
Gage’s additional leadership roles include serving as co-chair of the research implementation work group of the MSU Strategic Plan 2030, and as research chair for the new partnership with Henry Ford Health. He also sits on the board of the MSU Research Foundation, the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR) in Cerro Pachón, Chile, and several MSU governance groups including the executive space committee and the Century Bond steering committee.
Along with fostering collaboration, excellence and integrity in research, he continues to lead the Global Impact Initiative at MSU, an aggressive plan to recruit more than 100 faculty researchers in exciting new areas including advanced physical science, precision health, plant resilience, autonomous vehicles, and more.