Dear colleague: 

The Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI) announced last week that its grant has been renewed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The five-year, $46.5 million grant from the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences is a centerpiece for research efforts on our campus, offering extensive programming and support for programs that extend the reach of our investigators from the laboratory to the clinics and the community.  The CCTSI was launched in 2008 with a grant of $76 million — the largest biomedical research and training award in the state’s history. With this renewed grant, total funding from the NIH to the CCTSI is more than $187 million. We should be extremely proud of our CCTSI team for securing its requested funding on this grant renewal due to uncertainties in federal funding. Congratulations to the CCTSI team, including Director Ron Sokol, MD, professor of pediatrics, Lisa Cicutto, PhD, RN, director of the education, training and career development program for the CCTSI and associate professor for the Colorado School of Public Health, and Cara Wilson, MD, professor and vice chair for faculty advancement in the Department of Medicine. 

Kudos also to two trainees in CCTSI’s TL1 program, Lyndsey Crump and Nick George, who recently attended the national Association for Clinical and Translational Science conference in Washington D.C., April 19-21. Lyndsey, who is a member of Cancer Biology Program, was one of six people receiving a Best Poster Award out of 60 posters that were judged. Nick, who is a member of the Neuroscience Program, was selected to deliver a Distinguished Oral Presentation – one of only 20 selected for this honor. While in D.C., our TL1 trainees also visited U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet’s office to discuss the TL1 program and their research, and to advocate for increased funding for the National Institutes of Health. The trainees were excellent representatives of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, the CCTSI, and the School of Medicine. The TL1 program, which supports pre- and post-doctoral trainees in developing skills for conducting clinical and translational research, is accepting applications through Friday, May 4. 

Thanks to everyone who planned and turned out last Monday, April 23, for the Chancellor’s Diversity Showcase, where about 30 booths were set up in Krugman Conference Hall to spread the word about initiatives promoting diversity and inclusivity on the Anschutz Medical Campus. “I believe we exceeded our goals,” said Brenda J. Allen, PhD, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion for the CU Anschutz and CU Denver campuses. “Not only were there a lot of people packing both the interior and exterior of Krugman Hall, but the energy was so positive, and I saw so many different kinds of people interacting with one another.” 

Two more School of Medicine faculty have joined the distinguished ranks of graduates of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program. Suzanne Brandenburg, MD, professor of medicine, and Margaret Wierman, MD, professor of medicine, last week completed their yearlong fellowships with presentations at the Chubb Conference Center in Lafayette Hill, Penn. ELAM is dedicated to developing the professional and personal skills required to lead and manage in today’s health care environment, with special attention to the challenges facing women in leadership positions. The CU School of Medicine has many ELAM alumnae who continue to make significant leadership contributions on the Anschutz Medical Campus. This year, the graduates received a special treat with an address by Lilly Marks, CU vice president for health affairs, who received a standing ovation after her oration. 

Open Enrollment for benefits for University employees has begun and will run through 5 p.m. Friday, May 11. Visit the Open Enrollment website for plan details to review options. 

Earlier this year, the School of Medicine launched a search for a successor to Robert D’Ambrosia, MD, our esteemed chair of orthopedics, who will be retiring.  Since joining the School of Medicine in 2002, Bob has been a catalyst for growth in the department and an inspirational champion of our University’s diversity efforts. When he joined CU, there were six faculty members in the Department of Orthopedics; now there are 114. To honor Bob, we are establishing the Robert D’Ambrosia, MD Diversity Endowment Fund to increase diversity and enhance cultural competency at the School of Medicine. The goal is to raise $250,000 for a fund that would support an annual lectureship and visiting professorship. For more information or to support the fund, contact Travis Leiker, director of development, at 303-724-2754 or travis.leiker@ucdenver.edu. 

Have a good week,

John J. Reilly, Jr., MD
Richard D. Krugman Endowed Chair
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and
Dean, School of Medicine