AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO CANCER CENTER
thank you Thank you for your ongoing support for the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Your vision and generosity have accelerated progress in prevention, research, bioinformatics and personalized medicine at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, and I am grateful for all you have made possible. In the past two years, I have focused on developing an ambitious vision for the future – one where we eliminate the pain and suffering from cancer for patients and their loved ones. We all enter the field of medicine hoping to change lives and improve outcomes. And that is exactly what we are doing at the CU Cancer Center.
focused on improving the clinical experience of our patients by continuing our efforts in multidisciplinary clinics, so that health providers can work together to create the best possible treatment plans for our patients. This work is made possible because of you. Thank you for investing in this critical work.
- Richard Schulick, MD, MBA Director, CU Cancer Center Chair, Department of Surgery Aragón/Gonzalez-Guístí Endowed Chair in Surgery
While we are excited about the progress made possible in the last several years, we look forward to the opportunities ahead. With your philanthropic support, we are investing in innovative research that will lead to the therapies of tomorrow. We are also
YOU’VE MADE THIS POSSIBLE Philanthropy allows us to invest in innovative research, and retain and recruit top talent in the field. By doing this, we can take discoveries from the labs to the clinics more quickly than ever before. In the past two years, we have witnessed remarkable successes including: • Recruited and retained over 14 physician-scientists in 12 different specialties. • Purchased a X-RAD precision irradiator, IncuCyte and molecular ion beam imager for all our investigators to use in their research. • Funded four seed grants to meet our commitment to the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant Program. • Provided funding to support investigator-initiated trials selected by the CU Cancer Center’s Investigator-Initiated Trials Committee. • Supported the Cancer Biology T32 grant, which funds cutting-edge research.
by the numbers
*general support to the CU Cancer Center since 2017
67% five-year survival rate
1,440 unique benefactors*
229
19%
faculty members
of patients enrolled in clinical trials
$
1ST
$1,609,183
959
total giving*
first-time benefactors*
FUELED BY PHILANTHROPY We remain focused on improving lives by providing the best care possible today while making strides in basic research to inform the therapies of tomorrow. Our outstanding faculty are caring for patients throughout the Rocky Mountain region and fueling a remarkable increase in the five-year survival rate for many cancers. Today, 67% of our patients live beyond five years, demonstrating significant outcome improvements. To continue this important work, it is crucial that we invest in top talent. Over the past several years, we have invested philanthropic dollars into endowed chairs that are now transforming immunotherapy, breast cancer, bioinformatics and other areas within the CU Cancer Center. Many of our faculty are actively engaged in investigator-initiated trials. Philanthropy is the rocket fuel needed to take research one step further into clinical trials, where we can make a difference in patient care.
EDUARDO DAVILA, PHD Dr. Davila was recruited to the CU Cancer Center in 2018 and holds the Amy Davis Chair in Basic Human Immunology. His area of expertise is in understanding the role of the immune system in the development and progression of cancer. Dr. Davila is also leading our efforts to train providers and develop diversity through a mentorship program. His research has already led to new types of immunotherapies that reactivate a patient’s immune system to alert their body to different types of cancers.
“Philanthropy is a key driver of our work, allowing us to take risks and move toward grant funding. The valuable resources you have provided position me to focus on growing my research, and I would not be able to do what I do without your support.”
CHRISTOPHER LIEU, MD Dr. Lieu was recruited to the CU Cancer Center in 2011. He specializes in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract including colon, stomach, esophageal, pancreas and liver. In the clinic, he treats early-stage to late-stage cancers in coordination with a multidisciplinary team to provide outstanding care to patients. In addition to working in the clinic, Dr. Lieu has a robust research portfolio that aims to develop new drugs to fight cancer.
“I’m proud of the difference that we are making in our patients’ lives. I’m proud of being a part of offering treatments to patients that weren’t even possible just five or ten years ago. I believe that we deliver a level of care that is unmatched in the region.”
CU Anschutz Office of Advancement | advancement@cuanschutz.edu | 303.724.6336 If you would prefer to receive these updates electronically, please email advancement@cuanschutz.edu