Michigan Ag Research Announces Winter Bioassay Capacity in New Laboratory Facilities

Albion, Michigan - October 25, 2025​. Michigan Ag Research is opening winter bioassay capacity in our new laboratory facilities with access to heated greenhouses, enabling rapid screening, rate determination, and protocol refinement ahead of spring field programs. Sponsors can secure data in as little as 3 weeks from trial initiation (program dependent).

Beyond standard assays, we routinely develop and customize bioassay protocols to match sponsor goals—especially helpful for smaller organizations that want guidance on study design, intake, and analysis.

Why Winter Bioassays
Winter bioassays allow R&D teams to triage candidates, confirm dose–response and effective rates, and streamline decisions before large-scale field trials. By answering key questions under controlled laboratory conditions, only the most promising products advance to greenhouse or field.

Protocol development & customization (for sponsors who want guidance)

We translate your goals into a tight, testable plan:

1. Clarify decision criteria and convert them to measurable endpoints
2. Propose rate ranges, replication, and observation intervals
3. Draft or adapt SOP-level methods (e.g., application technique, handling, reads)
4. Provide intake checklists (samples, SDS, labeling) and reporting templates
5. Align timelines to your go/no-go dates; deliver decision-grade data in ~3 weeks (program dependent)

Assay Platforms & Formats

1. Diet incorporation, detached-leaf, and leaf-disk bioassays
2. Conducted under controlled laboratory conditions to support repeatability and statistical power
3. Access to many common insect species (availability confirmed at scheduling)
4. We can design or customize bioassay protocols to suit specific research goals​

Laboratory Features

1. Dedicated growth chambers for controlled environmental conditions
2. Modern laboratory infrastructure for precise application and assessments (e.g., micropipettes, Potter spray tower, custom boom sprayers)
3. Capacity to run multiple concurrent studies
4. Custom rearing options for any insect life stage

Heated Greenhouses for Step-Up Work
Michigan Ag Research’s heated greenhouses support larger-scale confirmations and plant production for laboratory assays, creating a smooth progression from lab → greenhouse → field as needed.

Turnaround & Scheduling

• Rapid timelines: decision-grade data in as little as ~3 weeks after trial initiation (program dependent)
• Rolling starts: the winter calendar is now open; start windows are assigned on a first-come basis

Typical Study Designs & Endpoints

• Rate–response series (4–6 rates plus control)
• Head-to-head candidate comparisons with internal standards
• Screening funnels: broad screen → confirmatory follow-up
• Common endpoints: corrected mortality, feeding inhibition, injury scores; optional knockdown, residual activity, and phytotoxicity notes

Reporting & Deliverables
Sponsors receive a methods summary, raw data, tables/figures, and statistics (e.g., ANOVA/GLM with post-hoc tests), plus an executive summary that recommends rates and next steps.

How to Engage

1. Share targets and objectives (species, crop/host, assay format, endpoints, timelines).
2. Receive a design & quote aligned to your decision criteria.
3. Reserve a start window and ship materials per intake guidance.
4. Review interim reads (as applicable) and a final report with recommendations.

​Reserve Your Winter Start Window
​Winter start windows are now being assigned.

Michigan Ag Research (Albion, MI) Contact:
Brian Cortright at (517) 857-2676
[email protected]

Matt Hiles at (989) 860-5992
[email protected]

FAQ

What types of winter bioassays can you run?
Diet, detached-leaf, and leaf-disk formats under controlled laboratory conditions, with access to many common insect species; including topical and precision applications and exclusion assays.

How fast can I get results?
Programs can deliver data in as little as 3 weeks from trial initiation, depending on design and endpoints.

Can studies transition to greenhouse or field?
Yes. Heated greenhouses support step-up work and plant production, and studies can progress to field as appropriate.

What study designs are typical?
Rate–response series, head-to-head candidate comparisons, and staged screening funnels with confirmatory follow-ups.

What’s included in the report?
Methods, raw data, summary tables/figures, statistics, and an executive summary with rate recommendations and next steps.