AN ENDURING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO ANSCHUTZ MEDICAL CAMPUS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY Dear Ms. Anschutz-Rodgers, As I look back on the history of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, it is clear that you have played a vital role in our growth and forward momentum. Thank you for your many investments in our mission to advance educational opportunities, pursue life-changing discoveries, provide the highest quality care and support the health of our communities. Incredible advancements happen when people come together in pursuit of a shared goal, and your philanthropic support has been integral to the success of the Department of Ophthalmology. In addition, your support for our physical therapy program and funding for student scholarships have bolstered our ability to support the next generation of healthcare professionals. Sue, you exemplify the best of our CU community. We are honored by your kindness and humbled that countless students, faculty and patients have benefited from your partnership. I hope the following pages offer a glimpse into the meaningful impact your support makes here every day. Thank you for placing your confidence in us and for your remarkable philanthropic investments in our future. Sincerely,
DON ELLIMAN
Chancellor University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
YOUR GIFTS IN MOTION Your dedication to CU Anschutz has been extraordinary and continues to have a lasting impact on the university. From your first gift in 1988 to the College of Nursing, to gifts to the CU Cancer Center and the Ludeman Center for Women’s Health Research, to your long-term investments to the Department of Ophthalmology, your support has helped shaped our programs into the leading enterprises that they are today.
$5,000
First-time gift to CU College of Nursing in 1988
$5,900
Total gifts to CU Cancer Center supporting various Cancer Center efforts
$12,235
Total gifts to the Ludeman Center for Women’s Health Research
TOTAL GIVING:
$25M+ OVER 35 YEARS
$25,000,000 Total gifts to Ophthalmology/ Eye Center
$77,500
Total gifts to the Physical Therapy and Rural Track Programs within the CU School of Medicine
I have no words to describe how important Ms. Anschutz-Rodgers’ gifts have been for the Department of Ophthalmology and the CU School of Medicine. Thank you for standing with us in the fight to save and restore sight in patients. Because of you, we can continue to dream big, set ambitious goals and have the resources to fulfill them.”
NARESH MANDAVA, MD
Director, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Chair in Retinal Diseases
Over the past several decades, your gifts to the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center have helped the center grow, attracting NIH funding and advancing key achievements, increasing collaboration with private industries, nurturing top talent and innovative solutions, and most importantly, making a profound impact on the lives of patients.
Your generosity makes our work possible.
SUE ANSCHUTZ-RODGERS EYE CENTER
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
$16M+
in Total Funding for Sponsored Research Grants from FY2021 - 2023
105
Publications in Calendar Year 2022
61
Patents from Department Faculty and Researchers since 2020
35
Clinical Partners across the Rocky Mountain Region
32
Sponsored Research Grants from 2021-2023
30
Active Clinical Trials
13
166,800+
Technologies Licensed to five different entities from FT 2019-2023
Unique Patient Visits by CU Faculty in FY2023
$200M+
9,600+
in Total Funding Raised for CU Department of Ophthalmology Spinout Companies
Surgeries by CU Faculty in FY2023
ADVANCEMENTS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY Due in large part to your philanthropic leadership, the Department of Ophthalmology has solidified its place as a leader in eye care innovation. As we look ahead to what’s possible, we are close to securing stem cell therapy clinical trials for a potentially revolutionary treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We hope to learn more about how diseases like AMD progress so that we can use all of the tools at our disposal to help patients save their vision. In this report, we highlight some of the ways your philanthropy has kept us on the forefront of ophthalmology improvement and discovery. It is through teamwork that we can achieve such excellence, and that success all stems from your generosity and the trust you have placed in our work.
SUE ANSCHUTZ-RODGERS ENDOWED CHAIR IN RETINAL DISEASES
Total Philanthropy
$2M // Endowed Chair in Retinal Diseases in 2012
Gifts to support endowed chairs are powerful, and we are humbled by your generous investment to establish the Department of Ophthalmology’s first endowed chair in retinal diseases. Because of you, Dr. Mandava has had dedicated funds to support his research direction and focus, collaborating with physicians within the department and outside the institution.
CELLSIGHT
Total Philanthropy
$1M // CellSight in 2015
Your philanthropic support has been integral to the success of CellSight and our impact on novel stem cell-based therapeutics. In 2022-2023, the CellSight team successfully completed the proof-of-concept phase, proving our stem cell-derived miniature human retinas have the function of regular retina cells, and that they can be transplanted in animal models. Through their experimentation with animal models, the team has built a foundation of knowledge and improved their surgical techniques. The CellSight team is encouraged by the preliminary results in their animal experiments, which show evidence of electrophysiological activity in the transplanted cells. That is, the cells survive the surgery and retain retinal function. With this major milestone achieved, the team is now moving toward human clinical trials, which may begin in the next few years. Your early philanthropic investment served as a catalyst, nurturing the development of CellSight and inspiring subsequent donors to contribute. We have received $21M in additional philanthropic support, and $13M in competitive intramural, federal and state grants since you made your contribution to CellSight.
SUE ANSCHUTZ-RODGERS EYE CENTER
Total Philanthropy
$20M // Research Fund in 2018
Endowed Fund // $2M in 2018
The state-of-the-art UCHealth Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center facility is one of the largest eye centers in the country, serving patients in the Rocky Mountain region and all over the world. Without your invaluable philanthropy, the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center would not be what it is today.
SUE ANSCHUTZ-RODGERS EYE CENTER Basic Vision Research Funds were used to support research projects that have the highest potential to move technology from the laboratory to patient care in diseases such as AMD, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Your gifts were also used for sophisticated instrumentation and technology, which facilitated collaboration between clinicians and basic scientists. Mark Petrash, PhD, researches novel therapeutic strategies to prevent diabetic cataracts and complications from cataract surgery. A portion of your gift supported his lab to follow up on a common diabetes drug that can improve outcomes of cataract surgery in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Funds also helped Dr. Petrash’s team study how the diet may be adjusted to prevent the damaging effects of high blood sugars in diabetic eye diseases such as retinopathy and cataracts.
Ram Nagaraj, PhD, studies cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Thanks to your gifts, Dr. Nagaraj was able to pursue the development of two innovative therapies for glaucoma. In March 2023, he established Eyegenex, Inc. to further develop these treatments for human patients by conducting IND-enabling studies. As part of this project, a monoclonal antibody product was created and licensed to industry partners.
Joseph Brzezinski, PhD, focuses on uncovering how the mammalian retina is formed during development. A portion of your gift supported his lab to better understand how mouse and human cone photoreceptors develop to create new cellreplacement strategies that can reverse the effects of macular degeneration. Results from Dr. Brzezinski’s study will support the mission of CellSight.
Clinical Trials Clinical trials in ophthalmology help us evaluate new treatments, surgical techniques and medical interventions to improve vision. We currently have 30 clinical trials open; the studies include a wide range of eye conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and corneal disorders. Because of your support, the department was able to invest in staff for its clinical trials program. Our staff has forged relationships with industry partners, navigated regulatory processes and created assessments of the safety and efficacy of new therapies.
Dry Eye Research Program Tianjing Li, PhD, established a dry eye research program in the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center. Her team explores the social and environmental impact of dry eye, as well as behavioral strategies to alleviate dry eye symptoms. They are trying to learn about (1) the assessment of dry eye disease burden in Central and South America; (2) the investigation of dry eye among patients undergoing cataract surgery; and (3) the examination of dry eye among patients taking topical glaucoma medication. Thanks to your gifts to research, Dr. Li’s team is in the final stage of a project examining the social determinants that contribute to dry eye. Dr. Li now leads the Cochrane Eyes and Vision US Project, the world’s largest collection of high-quality, independent evidence to inform eyecare decision-making. She and her team have received a $5M award from the National Eye Institute, which would not have been possible without your investment.
Epidemiology Your gifts enabled the department to invest in infrastructure for ophthalmic epidemiology — gathering and analyzing biomarkers and lifestyle data to understand the prevalence, incidence, risk factors, causes, and patterns of various eye conditions and visual impairments. We have developed registries in AMD, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), retinal detachment, glaucoma and cataract outcomes. These studies help us learn how diseases progress, and the best way to prevent and treat disease progression. The ophthalmic epidemiology team has published 130 articles and given 160 national and international presentations since your support began.
Novel Therapeutics One of the major strengths of the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center is the melding of basic and clinical sciences to bring creative therapeutic approaches to patients. Your gifts to fund our research enterprises have been used to develop a new class of therapeutics to prevent the onset of secondary cataracts. Additionally, your funds contributed to the development of a new class of therapeutics against diabetic retinopathy. The new agents are inhibitors of a novel biochemical pathway involved in formation of acellular capillaries in the diabetic retina. Based on this discovery, the Nagaraj lab is working to develop a gene therapy treatment.
IMPACT ON SCHOLARSHIPS & PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM Since making your initial gifts to the CU Physical Therapy Program, we have worked with other benefactors to expand support to students from rural communities and who wish to practice in rural communities. These include Pat and Carla Grant, partnering with the National Western Stock Show and CU Medicine, as well as the McGlone Scholarship initiatives, which have provided robust support for students. The CU Physical Therapy Program has also partnered with the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs (UCCS) Campus to establish a hybrid pathway, which will welcome its first class in Summer 2024. This pathway will allow students to complete their didactic education online and come to the Colorado Springs Campus periodically for lab and clinical education. This opportunity will allow Doctor of Physical Therapy students to complete most of their education in their hometowns and will bolster the next generation of rural PT practitioners.
Total Philanthropy
in 2005 | 2008 | 2010
$30,000
in 2013 | 2014 | 2017
$27,500
$20,000
Rural Track Program Support
Rural Program Scholarship Fund Support
Physical Therapy Scholarship Support
in 2017 | 2021
I am grateful to be recognized and honored with the National Western Stock Show Scholarship as it has allowed me to focus
PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM
solely on the task of becoming the most effective physical therapist without having great concern over finances. This scholarship has provided me with the sensation of being part of a community which actively supports one another. This cohesiveness is one which I am grateful for, and which I will pass on to others when the time comes.” DAVID WISE
Physical Therapist
Scholar Spotlight Because of you, one National Western Stock Show Scholar has directly benefited from this critical support and is prepared to meet Colorado’s rural healthcare workforce needs. Let’s meet David … David Wise grew up in Colorado, and it was important for him to be in a school close to his family and the landscape he knew and loved. David became interested in physical therapy through his own experiences with health and the medical system in addition to his work with patients in the past. His background led him to believe that more than anything else, physicality and movement have a role in providing solutions to many medical conditions. His proudest achievement in PT school was when he demonstrated his knowledge during his first clinical experience in a rural outpatient orthopedic clinic. Using theory and psychomotor skills to create change for patients has been the most rewarding part of the process.
WITH GRATITUDE Ms. Anschutz-Rodgers, I hope you are as proud as we are of the accomplishments reflected in these pages. It’s an honor to celebrate areas of significance where your philanthropy has impacted lasting change. With your help, we are not only delivering the best care the world has to offer, but we are also inventing the cures and treatments of tomorrow, right here, right now. Your gifts helped to nurture our research programs and put us on a path toward sustainability and growth. Many of our talented faculty have advanced their research for the ultimate benefit of patients. The programs described in this report developed and matured thanks to your initial investments, and went on to receive significant, long-term funding from the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, these programs attracted industry partnerships to bring new therapies toward clinical testing. This would not have happened without your support. Your investments have taken us to the top, solidifying the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center as a leader in eye care innovation and discovery. We know the work is hard, and we are committed to finding cures for blinding disease. Thanks to your support, we continue to advance our eye research, improve treatment and inch closer to prevention and cure. Thank you for your philanthropic partnership. Sincerely,
NARESH MANDAVA, MD
Director, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Chair in Retinal Diseases