OSU unveils research affiliate model at annual ignite symposium
Friday, April 24, 2026
Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | OSU Brand Management | 405-744-9782 | sydney.trainor@okstate.edu
Human Performance Institute program to boost research competitiveness and collaboration
What do the Avengers and researchers at Oklahoma State University have in common? Each brings a distinct strength — but their greatest impact comes when those strengths come together.
On April 15, that idea came to life as faculty from across disciplines gathered at the IGNITE Symposium, where the Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute is facilitating a more connected, collaborative approach to advancing health research.
Since its inception, HPNRI’s research and outreach teams have been building a strong foundation for success by collaborating with OSU faculty members on a large amount of their research and outreach efforts. They are conducting and publishing research, establishing outreach programs, and expanding initiatives such as Project ECHO lines — including Building Healthy School Communities, Athletic Training-Sports Medicine, and Strength and Conditioning. Looking ahead, the institute is poised for another major step forward with its planned move into the Boone Pickens Human Performance Innovation Complex in late 2027.
That forward momentum is driven by a performance-focused mindset embedded in the institute’s leadership. HPNRI Rick and Gail Muncrief Executive Director Lance Walker, a coach at heart, is driven to improve performance — whether on a field, court, classroom or living room. For HPNRI, which launched in December 2022, that same mindset has shaped its trajectory from the beginning.
But as any good coach knows, success is never static — there is always room to grow and improve.
That mindset drove a key announcement at the 2026 IGNITE Symposium, where HPNRI unveiled its new faculty affiliate model. The program is designed to formally recognize and strengthen collaboration with faculty across the OSU system, bringing together expertise from diverse disciplines to enhance research impact and elevate OSU’s competitiveness as an R1 institution.
“At its core, this program reflects what it means to be a land-grant institution, connecting expertise across disciplines to solve real-world challenges,” Vice President for Research Kenneth Sewell said. “By creating new pathways for collaboration, we are enabling researchers to approach Oklahoma’s most pressing health issues in novel ways while strengthening OSU’s role as a national destination for impactful research.”
Through the affiliate model, faculty members will receive regular updates on funding, collaboration and engagement opportunities, along with invitations to participate in seminars and networking events. As the program evolves, affiliates will also be eligible to apply for HPNRI-supported grants and resources.
The faculty affiliate program is open to any OSU faculty member interested in research collaboration, seed funding and pilot grants, access to participants or data, translational research programs, industry partnerships, workforce development, use of lab equipment and facilities and more.
“The excellence is already here — it always has been,” Walker said. “Our role at HPNRI is to build the bridges that connect it and create a platform that amplifies it. Because when this much talent moves together toward a shared vision — helping Oklahomans move, eat and rest better — the impact is transformational.”
The 3rd annual symposium offered a preview of the model’s potential. Attendees participated in a rapid-fire presentation session, where speakers shared their research, highlighted their expertise and identified opportunities for collaboration — all within five minutes.
Presenters represented a wide range of disciplines, including kinesiology, nutritional sciences, public health, rural health, biomedical imaging, microbiology, anatomy and industrial engineering, underscoring the breadth of collaboration the affiliate model aims to foster.
“For me, the IGNITE Symposium really underscored just how deep and diverse the health-related talent is across Oklahoma State University,” said Dr. Brian Whitacre, OSU professor and Neustadt Chair of Agricultural Economics. “We have faculty and staff working on everything from rural health access to nutrition, mental health and community-based interventions, all bringing different tools and perspectives to the table. What stood out most is the opportunity to better connect that expertise — because the pieces are already here to make a meaningful impact.”
The symposium brought together participants from across the OSU system, along with external attendees, to demonstrate what’s possible when collaboration is intentional and performance driven.
Through the affiliate model, HPNRI is building a team focused on advancing research, strengthening partnerships, and increasing OSU’s competitiveness.
For those in the room, the message was clear: The future of OSU Research is stronger when approaching problems as a team — and there is a place on the team for those ready to help define it.
“The IGNITE Symposium is a powerful example of how a well-structured, professionally executed, yet accessible format can accelerate collaboration across an innovation ecosystem,” said James Spencer, OSU LaunchPad Center for Advance Air Mobility director. “It created meaningful opportunities for researchers and others to connect, share insights and identify pathways for interdisciplinary impact.”