MSU’s Cisplatin Discovery Continues to Save Lives and Fuel Innovation

EAST LANSING, Mich. (Sept. 18, 2025) — Nearly 60 years ago, Michigan State University scientists made an accidental discovery that changed the course of cancer treatment worldwide: the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. That breakthrough was honored on Sept. 16, 2025, with a Golden Goose Award, which recognizes the unexpected, life-saving impact of federally funded, curiosity-driven research.

A Discovery That Changed Cancer Treatment

In 1965, MSU biochemist Barnett “Barney” Rosenberg and his team were studying how electricity affects bacterial growth when they noticed an anomaly: bacteria failed to divide near a platinum electrode. Further experiments revealed that platinum compounds, not electricity, disrupted cell division. Their work ultimately led to the FDA’s 1978 approval of cisplatin, now a standard treatment for testicular, ovarian, bladder, lung, and stomach cancers. The drug boosted testicular cancer survival rates from about 10 percent to more than 90 percent.

At the Golden Goose Award ceremony, held at the Library of Congress, members of Congress from both parties highlighted cisplatin as a prime example of how federal investment in basic science can yield profound societal benefits. The award celebrated not only the scientific achievement but also the enduring influence of federally supported research at MSU.

Royalties Fueling Future Innovation

“The most important impact of cisplatin will always be the millions of lives it has saved,” said David Washburn, CEO of the MSU Research Foundation. “What makes this discovery even more remarkable is how its success continues to fund new breakthroughs.”

Royalties from cisplatin and its derivative carboplatin, managed by the MSU Research Foundation, provide a flexible and sustainable funding stream for Michigan State University, fueling new research, supporting economic development, and serving as a national model for how university technology transfer can turn federally funded science into lasting public benefit.

“The Foundation supports scientific research within the MSU community by providing financial support and actively managing programs that move innovations to the marketplace for a financial return and global impact,” said Washburn. “Cisplatin is the enabler for this important work.”

Today, cisplatin remains one of the world’s most effective chemotherapy treatments and is listed on the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List, proof that a single scientific insight can spark decades of medical and economic impact.