Today, the SETI Institute announced the second round of grants it will fund with its Support Technology, Research, Innovation, Development, and Education (STRIDE) program. The SETI Institute established the STRIDE fund to support SETI Institute researchers and EOC (Education, Outreach, and Communications) professionals in developing innovative research and education proposals. After funding the first round with $500K, this year’s program will award $1M to fund 10 projects. Advance understanding of the impact of stellar winds and magnetic fields on atmospheric loss in exoplanets and their implications for planetary habitability.

"This year’s STRIDE selections showcase ambitious, cutting-edge work across astrobiology, intelligence, planetary science, AI, and public engagement,” said Nathalie Cabrol, Director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute. “These projects push the boundaries of how we explore life, intelligence, habitability, and our place in the universe while fostering innovation that can shape future scientific breakthroughs."

Gladstone Institutes has received an initial award of $2 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), with additional funding of up to a total of $10 million available over the proposed 5-year project period. This grant will establish the Center for PhAIge Therapy, a research center that will develop new phage-based treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

Since its founding more than a century ago, the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) has been a place where bold scientific ideas take root. From advancing plant science and training future researchers, to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, BTI has long served as a launchpad for scientific discovery. That legacy continues today with innovation extending far beyond the walls of the Institute — and across the globe.

One of the latest examples is PrecizionIQ, an India-based health technology startup co-founded by BTI alumnus Pedro Rodrigues, a former postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Frank Schroeder at BTI. The company is developing novel, non-invasive diagnostics for fetal chromosomal abnormalities, with a mission to make early prenatal testing more accurate, affordable and accessible.

A new propulsion system combines the power and speed of conventional chemical thrusters with the precision and fuel-efficiency of electrical thrusters. The system could enable small satellites capable of both fast, powerful maneuvers and slower, precise adjustments.