A Q&A with Kimberley D Bruce, PhD , Associate Professor of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes, CU Anschutz
HIE Impact Innovation Champions are CU Anschutz faculty and staff embedded across campus who are helping shape a culture where ideas become impact. Through this spotlight series, we’ll introduce you to the Champions driving change from within — the connectors, catalysts, and collaborators who are making innovation more visible, accessible, and actionable for all. Get to know what motivates them, the discoveries they’re championing, and how they’re helping move bold ideas toward patient and societal benefit.
Why are you passionate about advancing healthcare innovation at CU Anschutz?
CU Anschutz offers a uniquely collaborative and supportive research environment. What excites me most is the shared commitment across campus to push scientific boundaries and translate discoveries into meaningful improvements in human health. The culture here fosters bold ideas and interdisciplinary partnerships, making it an ideal place to drive innovation forward.
What innovation work are you currently involved in (or have supported), and what impact are you hoping it will create?
Our team is exploring how metabolic dysfunction contributes to diseases like Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. We're particularly focused on Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL), an enzyme critical for lipid breakdown. We've developed peptide mimetics that replicate the function of natural LPL activators and inhibitors, with the goal of restoring healthy lipid metabolism. Ultimately, we hope these tools will lead to new therapeutic strategies that prevent or slow disease progression.
In your view, what is the biggest barrier faculty or trainees face when getting started in innovation — and how do you hope to help remove it?
One major barrier is the lingering perception that innovation and industry collaboration are at odds with academic values. In reality, innovation complements academic research—it accelerates the translation of discoveries, getting better solutions to the right people, quicker. By reframing innovation as a pathway to impact, and by providing resources and mentorship, we can empower researchers to pursue enterprising ideas without compromising scientific integrity.
"Start by identifying what you need—whether it's technical expertise, regulatory guidance, or funding. CU Anschutz is home to over a thousand faculty members, and chances are, the support you need is already here. Sometimes, the right connections aren’t obvious, especially when research is still unpublished. That’s where HIE Champions can help. Embedded within departments, we can connect you with the right collaborators and resources to move your idea forward."
What excites you most about the future of innovation on this campus (why should people pay attention to Anschutz)?
CU Anschutz is deeply invested in its researchers and continues to expand its innovation ecosystem—from pilot funding to technology transfer support. These resources are becoming more accessible and streamlined, enabling both clinical and basic science innovations to flourish. The momentum here is real, and it’s creating new opportunities to translate research into impact faster than ever before.
Any particularly interesting or surprising learnings along the innovation journey to share?
Innovation often begins in unexpected ways. When we first developed LPL peptide mimetics, our goal was simply to improve the specificity of an enzyme assay. It wasn’t until we stepped back and saw how precisely they worked that we realized their broader potential for human health. That moment taught us that even routine lab work can spark transformative ideas—if you're open to seeing the possibilities.
