Page 19 - October 2023 FOCUS Magazine

THE MSU RESEARCH FOUNDATION is celebrating
50 years of support for Michigan State University (MSU) and its growing leadership role in supporting
an increasingly robust economic development ecosystem throughout the MSU and Greater Lansing
communities as well as the entire state of Michigan.

Through the past five decades, the MSU Research Foundation has worked hand-in-hand with Michigan State
University to support innovative research, technology commercialization, the arts and economic development.
The Research Foundation was formed in 1973 as an independent foundation chartered to promote, encourage,
and aid scientific investigation and research at the university; assist with patent matters and perform trust
functions for the university’s fundraising organization.

Since 1973, The MSU Research Foundation has become a national leader in support for entrepreneurship and
facilitating economic development through modern commercialization practices, venture creation activity and
innovation partnerships at Michigan State University and across the state of Michigan.

THE ORIGINS: MORE STABLE SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, leaders in education across the country began to
understand that financial support from state governments would not be enough to
sustain higher education for the long-term. Michigan State University President
Dr. Clifton Wharton, Jr. was among those leaders and in early 1973, the Michigan
State University Foundation was established to “…bring into being a strong,
viable instrument to help serve the University and we were incorporated
in early 1973.”

Among the needs at Michigan State University in the early days
of the Foundation was for a new library and a performing arts Wharton
center. The Wharton Center for Performing Arts has since
become a world class performing arts center and it was funded as a result of the
Advancement Program spearheaded by Michigan State, with help from the
newly created MSU Foundation.

“That was the original purpose of the Foundation,
to provide value added services to enhance the
University’s advancement programs,” said
David Washburn, executive director, MSU
Research Foundation.

One of the Foundation’s services to the
university was to help with technology
commercialization. A team led by Barnett
Rosenberg discovered and developed Washburn
Cisplatin, which was approved by the FDA
in 1979, resulting in one of the most prolific and impactful cancer
therapeutics on the market, saving countless lives and enabling the
establishment of an unrestricted endowment.

“Cisplatin and Carboplatin had a dramatic impact,” said Washburn.
“In addition to millions of lives saved, it generated millions of dollars in
royalties over a 24-year period. That was what gave us the resources we
have today to support MSU with annual grants as well as to operate all of
our programs.”

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