Michigan Research
June 2025In this issue, we spotlight groundbreaking research from across the University of Michigan that’s improving lives statewide and beyond—from AI-powered deepfake detection to the invention of bladeless LASIK, regional economic development and innovative student-led discovery. Each research story featured in this month’s edition is supported by the Look to Michigan campaign, which helps fund bold, high-impact research that shapes a better future.
What’s on This Page
- Can You Trust What You See?
- UM-Dearborn: Making Our Region Healthier, Safer and More Competitive
- Strengthening Michigan Communities: The Impact of UM-Dearborn’s eCities Project
- Accelerate Blue Fund: Driving Innovation for a Better Tomorrow
- LASIK Pioneers Discovered Visionary Insight at the University of Michigan
- Impact Stories: Research at Michigan
Can You Trust What You See?
By Eric Shaw
Deepfakes are rising—and so is the risk to truth. At the University of Michigan-Flint, researchers at the SMILES Lab built DeepTect, an AI tool that detects and explains deepfakes before the damage is done. From courtroom evidence to cloned voices, DeepTect helps expose what’s fake—clearly, quickly and credibly.
By Kelsey Keeves
At UM-Flint, Khalid Malik is using AI to tackle tomorrow’s toughest problems—from deepfake detection to aneurysm prediction—while building interdisciplinary teams that stay one step ahead of emerging threats.
UM-Dearborn: Making Our Region Healthier, Safer and More Competitive
Joan Remski
Interim Vice Provost for Research
Armen Zakarian
Interim Dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science
UM-Dearborn’s rise to R2 research status is no accident. From reimagining EV battery storage and advancing brain health to preserving Michigan’s heritage and training undergraduates through hands-on research, the university is driving practical innovation that makes our region healthier, safer and more competitive.
Featured Stories
Strengthening Michigan Communities: The Impact of U-M-Dearborn’s eCities Project
Discover how UM-Dearborn’s eCities project is helping Michigan communities grow stronger economies by blending data, storytelling and student-powered research to spotlight what really works.
Accelerate Blue Fund: Driving Innovation for a Better Tomorrow
Accelerate Blue Fund portfolio companies like BlueConduit, M3D and Poás Bioenergy epitomize the fund’s mission to foster innovation that transcends academic boundaries and delivers substantial societal benefits.
LASIK Pioneers Discovered Visionary Insight at the University of Michigan
A chance laser incident at U-M set in motion a breakthrough that led to bladeless LASIK. Backed by federal funding, the discovery revolutionized eye surgery and earned national recognition for its global impact.
Impact Stories
A Statewide Strategy for Fighting Alzheimer’s—In the Lab, the Clinic, and the Community
With a powerful NIH designation and a three-campus partnership, Michigan’s Alzheimer’s research center is building one of the most community-embedded dementia initiatives in the country.
Addressing Firearm Injuries Before They Happen
U-M researchers are helping teens navigate real-world risks by equipping emergency departments with a proven, life-saving intervention that reduces youth violence and supports healthier futures.
Investing In Well-Being Essential For Our Nation’s Success
U-M is leading a national study to understand how social and economic policies affect American well-being—using data and storytelling to inform smarter, more compassionate decision-making.
U-M research uncovers bias in medical devices, driving FDA action
U-M researchers are exposing hidden racial bias in pulse oximeters—advancing evidence-based solutions to ensure medical devices are accurate, equitable and safe for all patients.
About Michigan Research
Michigan Research is the University of Michigan’s flagship monthly e-newsletter, produced by the Office of the Vice President for Research. Each edition spotlights groundbreaking U-M research and scholarship that addresses critical challenges, sparks innovation and shapes the future across a range of disciplines.