A single breakthrough can change everything. In the 1960s, Michigan State University researchers discovered cisplatin, one of the world’s most effective cancer-fighting drugs, with support from the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. It transformed treatment for millions of patients and launched a wave of Spartan-led research that’s still saving lives today. From understanding the origins of cancer to engineering precision therapies, MSU scientists continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the fight against this disease.

More than 200 researchers from MSU and Henry Ford Health receive funding from federal agencies as well as other sources that supports their research focused on better diagnosis and treatment for cancer patients. They bring together diverse expertise across disciplines and, often, one advancement contributes to another. This is the beauty of discovery.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers with an average survival of just nine months after diagnosis. Roughly 66,000 people are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. To change this grim outlook, researchers from Henry Ford Health and MSU have joined forces to improve diagnosis and treatment.