ANNUAL REPORT 2020 Prepared for The Galena Foundation and Gayle and Steve Mooney
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR Thank you for your longstanding partnership with the Center for Women’s Health Research. We have been building on your tremendous support and making significant strides to change the future of women’s health. Your investments in the Center continue to be highly beneficial to critical community and research programs as well as our talented MD and PhD researchers. The Galena Foundation has enabled the Center to make significant advances in growing the field of women’s health and sex and gender differences research. Your support allows the Center to provide seed grants to bright and motivated early career faculty scientists. Seed grants allow them to gain valuable experience and produce pilot data that will enable them to pave an independent research career with access to larger grants. I especially enjoy mentoring young scientists whom I motivate, encourage and inspire to transform women’s health. I strongly believe that in order to create a dedicated workforce to do the critical work in this field, we must provide world-class mentorship and training to our scientists. Several of these scientists are highlighted in this report. The Center is proud of our record in building careers in women’s health and sex differences research. I am excited to share how your investments are allowing the Center to develop a new program we are now calling Translation to Impact. Through this program, we will support talented researchers and accelerate the translation of their high-potential scientific findings to impact healthcare. Our work in this area will lead the country in the field of innovative healthcare for women. We look forward to telling you more about this program. On a personal note, I am very proud to hold the Judith and Joseph Wagner Chair in Women’s Health Research, which The Galena Foundation strongly supported. With resources provided through the chair, I continue to work to elevate the Center by disseminating my research findings nationally and internationally through presentations. Notably, this past year, I was honored to receive the Bernadine Healey Award for Visionary Leadership in Women’s Health, which is bestowed to researchers who are propelling the field of women’s health forward. I also had the honor of giving the Ruth L. Kirschstein Lectureship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) annual meeting for Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH). I am proud to represent the Center nationally and be considered a leader in the field. I am very grateful for your support for the Center, which will ultimately improve the way we prevent, diagnose and treat women’s health, making healthier futures possible for everyone. Your generous investment in women’s health and sex and gender differences research at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus makes me incredibly proud and excited for what lies ahead in women’s health. Thank you for all that you do to support our ambitious vision at the Center.
Gratefully,
Judith Regensteiner, PhD Director and Co-founder Center for Women’s Health Research
Dr. Regensteiner (far left) and Center researchers at the BIRCWH annual meeting
TRAINING TOP TALENT We look forward to the opportunities ahead in women’s health and sex differences research, and working with the talented young scientists supported by the Center inspires us all. Your support provides critical mentorship and training opportunities for the next generation of researchers and clinicians. By investing in talented faculty at all stages of their careers, you help ensure our ability to transform the future of women’s health. Our researchers are involved in diverse areas of scientific study and are dedicated to growing the field through their findings. They are developing new treatments and models of care that will improve the quality of life for women and their families. We invite you to learn about their professional journeys and successes.
MEET
DR. PHIMPHASONE-BRADY Senior Instructor and Licensed Clinical Psychologist Colorado Center for Women’s Behavioral Health and Wellness CU Department of Psychiatry
“It is a privilege to have such a wonderful group of mentors behind me…” A major achievement for Phoutdavone (Noy) Phimphasone-Brady, PhD, was becoming a scholar and being awarded funding through the NIH-funded Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) K12 Program in the summer of 2020. Her K12 research project focuses on understanding disordered eating behaviors in adults with type 2 diabetes and testing the effectiveness of remotely delivered treatment. She is proud to share that this intervention will be delivered in both English and Spanish, allowing her team to have a greater impact by reaching more patients. Dr. Phimphasone-Brady earned her first faculty position in the CU Department of Psychiatry after completing her post-doctoral studies. She has proven she can secure additional funding to support her research on an ongoing basis. She looks forward to continuing to work with her mentors to improve the translation of research findings into evidence-based mental health treatments in chronic disease management. “It is a privilege to have such a wonderful group of mentors behind me,” she said. “The BIRCWH K12 Program has significantly changed the trajectory of my career.” Dr. Phimphasone-Brady says that the mentorship and research training she has received at the Center have exceeded her expectations. She views philanthropy as necessary and important for her work. “Philanthropy makes it possible for junior researchers like me to conduct the preliminary studies that are needed before writing a NIH grant, receive training to be a successful principal investigator, and supports a community of peer researchers. Being involved with the Center has been such an invaluable experience for my career.”
MEET
DR. BAKER
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics Clinical Director, Genetic and Metabolic Clinics Children’s Hospital Colorado
“Support from philanthropic organizations like The Galena Foundation have helped me to define my role in translational medicine…” Peter Baker, MD, received a Junior Faculty Development Award (seed grant), training and mentorship at the Center. Thanks in part to their support, Dr. Baker was promoted to associate professor in pediatrics last year. His research focuses on studying sex differences in the systemic effects of acute kidney injury and the effects of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes on fetal health. Both of these studies have earned high scores for R01 grants with the NIH. As a co-investigator, Dr. Baker can remain involved in basic science research and be a clinical leader in the field of biochemical genetics. Dr. Baker is the clinical medical director for the Genetic and Metabolic Clinics at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He has successfully maintained a thriving clinical genetics and metabolism practice by pivoting care to a telehealth platform since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This service has shown new and efficient ways to reach families across the region to provide state-of-the-art care in diagnosing and treating rare diseases. In addition to this work, Dr. Baker serves as the only geneticist in Tuba City, Arizona, a central location for the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe. As a recipient of seed grant funding through the Center, Dr. Baker has been able to pursue novel research while also excelling in clinical care. “Support from philanthropic organizations like The Galena Foundation have helped me to define my role in translational medicine,” he said. “I have found a satisfying balance between clinical care and scientific research in which I can care for underserved populations, explore the metabolic underpinnings of human disease, and continue to apply my expertise in biochemical genetics in new and exciting ways.”
EXPANDING OUR REACH We continue to lead the future of women’s health and sex differences research and healthcare not only in Colorado but around the world. At last year’s virtual Annual Community Luncheon, which hosted more than 1,600 viewers from six countries, we announced seven new seed grant recipients. These brilliant and creative scientists will pursue innovative ideas and translate evidence-based solutions to impact a greater number of lives. Thanks to the support of our generous benefactors, we were able to bring this virtual program to our community and well beyond Colorado. In February 2020, we also held our 18th Annual Women’s Health Symposium, our longest running educational program intended for healthcare providers in the community. This event served to educate medical professionals on the latest evidence-based treatment approaches for women’s health and sex differences to help them better care for their patients. In the past year we have supported new programs and initiatives such as a new website, several virtual educational events and greater outreach and communications. These improvements have led to an exponential increase in awareness and knowledge of our discoveries among our community, clinicians and researchers.
The 18th Annual Women’s Health Symposium was held in February 2020.
OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 The Center continues to provide resources to the public and disseminate knowledge throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We have worked hard to adjust to changing circumstances and are more committed than ever to the health and well-being of our faculty, staff and community. Last year’s virtual Annual Community Luncheon featured keynote speaker Laurie Santos, PhD, professor of psychology at Yale University, whose talk centered around the science of happiness and its importance for maintaining physical and mental health. She provided eight evidence-based strategies to help improve well-being during this incredibly difficult time.
We continue to lead engagement initiatives with the campus and the community. This includes our “Let’s Talk: Conversations about Women’s Health” community lecture series. Our lecture series is uniquely created and presented by nationally renowned physicians, researchers and experts. We offer relevant and impactful information on health issues that matter most to women and their families. The talks have discussed a wide range of issues from brain and heart health, hormone imbalances, to taking care of your body and mind during the pandemic. We are able to provide education and resources to the public because of generous philanthropic partners like you.
ACHIEVING REMARKABLE GROWTH With the support of philanthropic partners like you, the Center is a national leader in women’s health and sex differences research. Our research enterprise has expanded exponentially beyond our immediate investment because of the return we have received from awarded seed grants. For example, for the $1.8 million we have awarded for seed grants through 2019, our scientists have obtained $92 million in external funding. This feat would not be possible without the support of philanthropic partners like you, who are investing in promising ideas that will have positioned faculty to apply for larger grants to take their research to new heights. Our faculty will continue to grow the field of research and improve the way we prevent, diagnose and treat women’s health. We are grateful for the many ways you bolster our mission, and our progress will ensure healthier, more hopeful futures possible for everyone. Your investment has allowed us to reach national and international recognition through successful achievements in the areas of research, education, community initiatives and impact on care.
Research • 74 Center scientists • 94% of our scientists remain in academia • 900+ peer reviewed publications • Innovation partnership between the Center and renowned CU Innovations • 6 senior faculty, up from 4 in 2019
Education & Community • Developed 12 content-rich researcher trainings each year and launched online curriculum • Doubled reach while hosting our first-ever virtual luncheon • Launched new website • Pivoted education programs to virtual
$1.8M SEED GRANTS
$92M
EXTERNAL FUNDING
Infrastructure • 13 clinics founded or led by Center scientists • Scientists within 34 different departments, centers and divisions • 65% of our scientists deliver clinical care, reaching over 13,000 patients each year
We have seen an increase of seed grants, allowing scientists to develop high-risk, high-reward research and establish their unique contributions to the field. Seed grants provide the initial funding needed to ensure bold ideas become eligible for grants that will take researchers to the next level of discovery.
• $1.8 million awarded • $92 million in external funding obtained by researchers • For each $1 invested, seed grant recipients have obtained $52 in external funding
ACCELERATING IMPACT Your support for the Translation to Impact Program enables us to deliver on our vision of transforming women’s healthcare. At the Center, our MD and PhD scientists are uncovering new developments that hold the potential to fundamentally change how we prevent, diagnose and treat women’s health issues. By fueling high reward research and discovery, you are helping to usher new ideas from the lab to the patient bedside more quickly than ever before. These findings will have a profound impact on the health and well-being of countless women and their families. This will help women and their healthcare providers make informed decisions that will further improve women’s health across their lifespan. Philanthropy plays an important role in our ability to move forward at the leading edge of innovation. With your support, we have attracted world-class teams of talent, bolstered investigation and discovery, and explored new frontiers with life-saving potential. We are reaping tremendous advancements from the Center for Women’s Health Research that will make a profound difference in the lives of women and their families. Thank you for being a powerful catalyst for the future of women’s health.
THANK YOU for investing in lasting change for the future of women’s health. We are grateful for your commitment and dedication in supporting the growth and trajectory of the Center for Women’s Health Research.