September 2021
At the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, putting our patients first is in our DNA. One of the many ways we seek to provide exceptional healthcare is through cross-campus collaboration and partnerships with experts. CU Innovations exists to do just that. By bringing together industry partners, entrepreneurs and investors, CU Innovations is helping our researchers create biomedical technology that improves patient care.
This project was so important because it set a paradigm for what we can do when we all come together, as a campus and with industry and hospital partners, to solve the most pressing problems in healthcare using data-driven solutions."
Kimberly Muller, Esq.
Executive Director, CU InnovationsThe result? In less than a year, the team had the largest AML dataset in the world.
“Using advanced informatic science, we were able to develop an initial approach for stratifying patients based on whether they were likely to respond to chemotherapy or another newer treatment termed venetoclax/azacytidine,” Smith explained. “And in less than two years, we were able to get those findings out to multiple pharma companies to validate and develop novel therapeutics based on the results of this collaborative project.”
The initial data from this project is very exciting and can hopefully be used to transform the treatment of AML and other blood cancers. But before big ideas can materialize into clinical use, research funding is key.
This project was a really a step to the plate and a swing for the fences for a home run scenario. Without funding from the CDIF, UCHealth and our industry partner, this technological research breakthrough would not have been possible."
Clay Smith
MD, Director of Blood Disorders and Cell Therapies Center at University of Colorado Hospital and Associate Chief, Division of Hematology, CU School of MedicineWhen we have novel ideas such as Smith’s AML work, philanthropy is key to moving those ideas forward; investment funds like the CDIF are critical to seeing those ideas come to fruition. The success of Smith’s research project is a testament to the power of partnership fueled by philanthropy. An innovative idea that turned into something real and tangible, and offers hope for many other disease treatments.
To provide a flexible funding source to address CU Anschutz's most promising priorities in support of research, education and patient care.