Research at the University of Minnesota combines the power of extensive
and collaborative research disciplines and proven market expertise to create
innovations that benefit society.
The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) helps facilitate collaborative research designed to solve our most complex problems.
Learn more about RIO
Services & Expertise
______________
RIO provides services and support to the University of Minnesota research community through our administrative units.
RIO 2026 Funding and Awards Programs
The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) has announced its funding and award programs for 2026, which includes a recently launched Grant-in-Aid category focused on social justice impact.
RIO Announces 2026 Research Infrastructure Investment Program
Letters of intent are now being accepted for the Research Infrastructure Investment Program which, in 2026, is being offered as a single round in the spring only this year. LOI due February 23; full proposal due March 23.
Research Ethics Week, March 2–6, 2026
Join your peers and colleagues across the University for Research Ethics Week, March 2–6, 2026, the annual week-long series of educational opportunities focused on research ethics.
10,000 Families Study Explores Genetic, Lifestyle, and Environmental Factors Affecting Minnesotans
Led by a multidisciplinary team at the University of Minnesota, the 10,000 Families Study investigates how common environmental exposures like radon and PFAS impact long-term health and blood cancer risk across the state’s diverse populations.
Restoring Fire to Minnesota’s Forest Ecosystems
The Cloquet Forestry Center and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe are collaborating to restore ecocultural prescribed fire regimes in northern Minnesota, moving away from reactive fire management toward a proactive, reciprocal approach that enhances forest health, honors Indigenous land stewardship, and reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
Addressing Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Rural and Indigenous Communities
The Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team at the University of Minnesota Duluth is developing culturally appropriate diagnostic tools and care models to improve dementia outcomes and health equity for rural and Indigenous communities across North America.