Director's Corner

Dear Research Community,

At the Colorado Clinical Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI), we benefit from our program leaders who enrich our institute with their expertise. Recently, six of these leaders received awards and recognition for their contributions to science, their mentees, and the University of Colorado overall. Congratulations to these talented individuals and the teams they lead. 

• Natalie Nokoff, MD, PhD, medical co-director of our Pediatric Clinical Translational Research Center, was recently named an Exceptional Mentor by the American Medical Women’s Association. Dr. Nokoff joined a class of 23 outstanding physicians who inspire, guide, and support the professional growth of women in medicine.
• Natalie Serkova, MSc, PhD, directs the CCTSI Pilot Grant Program. The University of Colorado has recognized her with the 2026 Excellence in Leadership Award! Dr. Serkova joined CU Anschutz in 2003 as junior faculty tasked with guiding the creation of CU’s first imaging research facility and is recognized today for her remarkable contributions to science and to the university along with her dedication to fostering future leaders. 
• The Vice Chancellor of Research Tom Flaig, MD, recently announced his Annual Research Awards. I was thrilled to see that four CCTSI program leaders were honored there! 
  • Kristine Erlandson, MD, MSc, received the Research Mentor Award. She is associate program director of the CCTSI’s Pre-K Grant Review program. 
  • Wendy M. Kohrt, PhD, received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Lectureship in Clinical Science. For many years, Dr. Kohrt was director of the CCTSI’s resources and services grant element. 
  • CCTSI Director of Operations Janine Higgins, PhD, and Paul MacLean, PhD, CCTSI Pre-K Grant Review program director, received the Research Collaboration Team Award for their work in the Colorado Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC). 

Kudos to the award recipients who are all exemplary scientists and leaders!

Annual Research Conference

Please join us at the CU-CSU Summit on Thursday, August 13 at the Elliman Conference Center at CU Anschutz. The topic will be Advancing Neurosciences. With this annual full-day conference, we aim to connect researchers and promote collaboration across all CCTSI institutions: CU Anschutz, CU Boulder, CU Denver, Colorado State University and our partnering hospitals and health systems. We will be hosting state-of-the art presentations,  a poster session and lightning talks. Keep a look out for the full agenda, a call for posters and registration information.
 

Weathering Challenging Times

Here at the CCTSI, we provide educational programs, trainings, resources, mentoring programs, and pilot grants for clinical and translational scientists. Our goal is to equip early-career researchers with the tools and knowledge they need to become successful independent investigators. Yet we all know that 2025 brought uncertainty and anxiety around traditional federal funding pipelines, for both early career and established investigators. We know there are challenges ahead, but please remember there are many mechanisms in place to support you in your research and career journey, including those offered by the CCTSI. The CU Anschutz Federal Update page is an essential source of information as is the Vice Chancellor’s Federal Updates for Researchers. And do not forget about the educational and funding opportunities the CCTSI provides. Moreover, we hope you persist in your scientific and research pursuits. When you do, our research community thrives and the world is a better place.
 
 
Best regards,
Ron