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Michigan Business Beat | Mackinac Policy Conference 2026 - David Washburn, MSU Research Fdt - #MPC26
Chris Holman speaks with David Washburn, from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference. Dave Washburn, head of the MSU Research Foundation, described the 54-year-old nonprofit's mission to commercialize university research through tech transfer, licensing, startup incubation, and venture investing — all funded by an endowment built largely from royalties generated by the cancer drugs cisplatin and carboplatin, developed at MSU decades ago. The foundation has invested in 280 companies, created 2,500 jobs, and manages about $60 million, making it the most…
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