We have identified seven strategic research priorities that focus on fostering a diverse talent community, supporting innovative interdisciplinary life sciences research, and strengthening partnerships to advance global health, biotechnology, and biomedical discovery. These priorities guide our efforts to address complex biological and societal challenges through collaboration and cutting-edge science.
Future Foods
Ensuring access to abundant, nutritious foods in a changing world requires an integrated approach.
At the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, we take an integrated approach to food security by studying the interactions between genetics, microbiology, physiology, nutrition, and environmental factors that influence plant and animal health. Leveraging AI, remote sensing, and innovations in controlled environment agriculture, our researchers develop practical solutions to help farmers grow nutritious food and empower families to make informed dietary choices.
Health for Life
The health of plants, animals, and humans is impacted by experiences across the lifespan.
Huck researchers study how biological, environmental, and social experiences across the lifespan shape the long-term health of plants, animals, and humans—including effects that can span generations. By partnering with farmers, communities, and policymakers, our researchers develop strategies to promote resilience and well-being at every life stage.
Emergent Intelligence in Organisms
One of the most remarkable features of living things is their ability to adapt to and modify the world around them.
At the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, scientists explore how living organisms—from microbes to humans—adapt, learn, and respond to their environments by integrating internal and external signals. By studying how intelligence emerges from genes, cells, and neural networks, our researchers aim to advance brain health, understand cognition, and inspire innovations in artificial intelligence and biomimetic design.
Engineering Resilient Ecosystems
Ecological communities include microbes, plants and animals that interact with each other and environmental factors such as nutrients in the soil, water, and air.
Huck researchers study how microbes, plants, animals, and environmental factors interact to sustain healthy ecosystems. Using tools from genomics, ecology, engineering, and more, they identify vulnerable communities and develop strategies to protect, restore, and build resilience. In collaboration with conservation groups, governments, and communities, they translate science into practical solutions that support biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Translational Science & Public Impact
Research at the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences bridges foundational discovery with real-world application.
Our scientists turn foundational biological discoveries into real-world solutions that improve health, sustainability, and public policy. From accelerating vaccine development and tracking disease outbreaks to advancing biorenewables and crop resilience, our interdisciplinary teams use cutting-edge tools and data integration to address global challenges. By engaging with stakeholders and communities, we ensure science informs decisions that benefit both people and the planet.
Life at All Scales
At the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, we are using and developing innovative new strategies to view life from all angles and scales.
At the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, researchers study life across all scales—from molecular interactions to ecosystem dynamics—using cutting-edge tools in technology, chemistry, and AI. By developing advanced sensors and analytical methods, we can detect changes in health and environment with unprecedented precision. This work enables innovative strategies to support the well-being of people, plants, animals, and ecosystems.
AI to Action
We are in a global data revolution, where it is possible to collect data at an unprecedented scale, spanning genomes to ecosystems, from archeological sites to real-time data collection from wearable devices.
Amid a global data revolution, Huck Institutes scientists are harnessing vast, diverse data streams—from genomes to ecosystems and real-time sensors—to uncover insights into biological processes and societal challenges. By integrating these complex datasets, they develop innovative strategies to advance health, understanding, and resilience across systems.
