News and Stories

Superman had kryptonite. Thor has two copies of the gene ApoE4.

One is a fictional material. The other is a real-life genetic characteristic that signals a greater likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Chris Hemsworth, who plays the Norse warrior armed with a trademark hammer, recently learned he has copies of the gene, one from his mother and one from his father. The genetic rarity – carried by only 2% to 3% of the population – makes Hemsworth eight to 10 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

Staff | November 22, 2022

Voters in November pushed Colorado to the forefront of a psychedelic-assisted therapy movement for mental health, becoming the second state behind Oregon to approve the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms for therapeutic use.

Debra Melani | November 21, 2022

A fine, black powder emergency room physicians sometimes use for treating patients with overdoses, has entered the health and beauty world in the form of shampoos and soaps to deodorants and toothpaste.

Kiley Kudrna | November 17, 2022

With the holidays around the corner, you may be wondering when is the best time to schedule your exercise routine during a hectic time of the year. Seth Creasy, PhD, assistant professor of endocrinology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, answers questions about exercise, diet and sleep and talks about a new clinical trial targeting the question: What time of day is best to exercise?

Kiley Kudrna | November 17, 2022

Celebrity Selena Gomez cracked open the door on lupus in her recently released documentary on Apple TV+, “My Mind & Me.” Focused largely on her mental health, which includes a bipolar disorder diagnosis, snippets in the film show the actor and superstar singer being checked and treated for lupus, which resulted in the need for a kidney transplant for Gomez in 2017.

Debra Melani | November 16, 2022

New research from the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative examined diverse viewpoints on reducing access to potentially dangerous situations among older adults due to changes in physical or cognitive functioning.

Julia Milzer | November 16, 2022

The “Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show” once again drew a large and star-studded crowd to raise awareness and funds for Down syndrome research.

Staff | November 15, 2022

AB Nexus announced its fifth round of grant awards to researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Colorado Boulder. These teams are comprised of experts from a range of disciplines to advance basic science and translational research that improves human health and well-being, from taking on the most complex forms of cancer to exploring unexpected relationships between periodontal disease and stroke.

Staff | November 15, 2022

About 800,000 people worldwide take their lives each year, which is one death every 40 seconds, according to the World Health Organization. It’s estimated that for every one person who dies by suicide, there are up to 135 people who are impacted by the death. Survivors of suicide loss often feel stuck in the trenches fighting a battle alone in a war they were thrown into against their will.

Laura Kelley | November 15, 2022

Christopher Schneck, MD, guardedly tuned in to a highly trumpeted documentary on celebrity Selena Gomez on a recent weekend. Unsure if “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me,” a six-year recorded journey of the pop star’s life that debuted Nov. 4 on Apple TV+, might amount to a publicity ploy, the top bipolar expert began watching with a skeptical eye.

Debra Melani | November 11, 2022

The national Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) strives to increase diversity in the scientific workforce. This year, the organization found the highest embodiment of its ideals at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Chris Casey | November 10, 2022

Nine years ago, Miah Yager was an active, life-loving young woman who had made great strides overcoming Down syndrome symptoms when, very suddenly, she crashed. Linda Roan said her daughter changed from her “world-by-the-tail” self to someone completely different. She stopped talking to friends and family, started hallucinating and could no longer sleep, getting maybe an hour each night.

Chris Casey | November 09, 2022

Visitors from a local high school held real human brains, virtually dissected a body donated to science and gazed at a 10-foot rendition of optic neurons during a recent anatomy lesson with an artistic twist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Debra Melani | November 09, 2022

Embracing their own vulnerability and telling personal stories, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus psychiatry faculty shared how they are innovating across disciplines and using digital technologies, novel drugs and deep brain stimulation to transform the mental health treatment landscape.

Guest Contributor | November 07, 2022

As the time changes and the dark days of winter settle in, many people may start feeling the impacts of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Even in Colorado, where we see more sun than most states, SAD is an ongoing problem for many residents and can severely impact their professional and personal relationships if left untreated.

Laura Kelley | November 07, 2022

Gifts of significance don’t always have to be large monetary contributions. Sometimes, the most impactful gifts don’t involve money at all.

Kiley Kudrna | November 07, 2022

Clinical research is one of the primary reasons the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a nationally renowned healthcare destination. Yet in 2019, only 25% of CU Anschutz adult clinical trials enrolled even one participant over age 50. Study results may not apply to unrepresented populations, so the National Institutes of Health (NIH) requires clinical research to include individuals across the life span.

Wendy Meyer | November 02, 2022

Researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered a new way the brain processes and communicates information that could lead to improved learning in those suffering neurological disorders or recovering from brain injuries.

Laura Kelley | November 01, 2022

Fentanyl’s growth from its original design as an effective surgical pain management tool to a leading cause of overdose death and concern has happened quickly – with severe consequences. 

Matthew Hastings | November 01, 2022

A common drug that makes patients sleepy and less anxious before surgery is associated with an increased risk of heart damage when operations are performed at night, according to a study by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. 

David Kelly | November 01, 2022

Starting this week, the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and CU Denver campus will each have its own Emergency Management divisions. Historically, the CU Denver | Anschutz Police Department has provided emergency management services to both campuses as a dual-campus department. To better meet the needs of each unique campus, emergency management for CU Anschutz will remain with the Police Department, while a new division for these services will begin on the Denver campus.

Guest Contributor | November 01, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus hosted its second annual Research Awards ceremony on Oct. 25. More than 125 people gathered to recognize the contributions of their fellow colleagues with cheers and standing ovations. With eight different award categories and over a dozen individual awardees, the event highlighted the significant depth, strength and teamwork of the CU Anschutz research community.

Megan Lane | October 31, 2022

Driven by ever-powerful social media platforms, health claims and trends are proliferating at lightning speed, inundating information-seekers. In this CU Anschutz newsroom series, medical experts leverage their knowledge to offer advice on the credibility and safety of social-media trends and advertising claims circulating today.

Staff | October 31, 2022

Increasing rates of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heat-induced illness and other maladies are strong indicators of the growing health impacts of climate change, according to experts at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. At an Oct. 26 roundtable discussion with U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, CU Anschutz and CU Boulder faculty and researchers shared perspectives of how the patients and populations they serve and study are uniquely impacted by the climate crisis.

Laura Veith | October 31, 2022

As temperatures drop and occasional wintry blasts loom, we want students, faculty and staff to know expectations for teaching, learning and working if the University of Anschutz Medical Campus is affected by inclement weather.

Kiley Kudrna | October 31, 2022

Scientists investigating why people who have had shingles are at a higher risk of stroke now believe the answer lies within lipid vesicles called exosomes that shuttle proteins and genetic information between cells, according to new research from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

David Kelly | October 27, 2022

For many scientists, communicating their research involves turning data into stories. However, for Laura Vargas, PhD, MSW, MPA, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, her data already are stories.

Guest Contributor | October 26, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has established itself as a national leader in retail offerings on a life sciences campus with the addition of two new dining options. In partnership with Health Hospitality Partners, a St. Louis-based real estate development and operating company working exclusively in the healthcare sector, CU Anschutz leadership began this endeavor to provide best-in-class hospitality amenities in 2019; with both T-Street Kitchen & Cafe and Choice Market now open and serving guests (in addition to Root & Sprig and Woodgrain Bagels), that journey has reached another major milestone.

Guest Contributor | October 25, 2022

The overexpression of a gene tied to cell division and the structure and function of neurons may prevent and protect against cognitive decline in both mice and humans with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a new study by scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

David Kelly | October 25, 2022

Exposure therapy is a major treatment option used by clinicians to help patients face and get past their distressing and impairing fears. However, the fears can return in as many as 50% of patients. 

Matthew Hastings | October 25, 2022

A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) will visit the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus from Nov. 6 to 8 to examine all aspects of the University Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.

Guest Contributor | October 24, 2022

A new paper in Cell Systems explores the importance of using multiple data types in drug discovery. The paper screens over 1,000 drugs tested in six doses and demonstrate that gene expression and cell morphology provide different information for drug prioritization.

Julia Milzer | October 24, 2022

Just as Invisalign® plastic aligners have revolutionized orthodontic treatment, a team at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus hopes its project using 3D printed plastic molds can transform cleft lip and palate care.

Chris Casey | October 21, 2022

A young woman’s TikTok video claiming that icing her chest with a bag of frozen peas conquered her until-then untouchable insomnia must have hit a nerve.

Debra Melani | October 20, 2022

Chancellor Don Elliman delivered his annual State of the Campus Address on Oct. 19 to an in-person audience for the first time since 2019. 

Matthew Hastings | October 20, 2022

When a Twitter follower praised Elon Musk’s new “awesome, fit, ripped and healthy” look, the billionaire entrepreneur replied that his secret was “fasting” and “Wegovy.” Given society’s obsession with celebrities and weight loss and Musk’s massive following on Twitter, a viral tweet was born.

Chris Casey | October 19, 2022

The Kardashians, arguably today’s leading body-image influencers, have shrunk, capturing headlines for their striking weight loss. Pictures highlighting tiny waists, jutting ribs and bone-thin arms have shocked fans and raised eyebrows, particularly among eating disorder experts.

Debra Melani | October 18, 2022

The biggest steps to protect your hearing are actually a series of small steps, according to audiologist Cory Portnuff, AuD, PhD, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Matthew Hastings | October 11, 2022

A free Firearm Injury Toolkit was unveiled this week to help more states find voluntary firearm storage sites while setting up online support maps that can help save lives.

Laura Kelley | October 11, 2022

Growing up in a family of machinists, Carlos Catalano was fascinated by the inner workings of devices. Wrist watches, especially, weren’t safe around the family home in Southern California.

Chris Casey | October 05, 2022

Concussions are a common risk in all sports, but especially with football and most notably in the NFL. Unfortunately, the latest player to sustain a concussion is Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. After a nasty hit that left him stumbling in the third game of the season, Tagovailoa re-entered the game and continued to play. Just five days later, he suffered another head-to-the-ground hit that forced him to leave the field on a stretcher.

Kiley Kudrna | October 04, 2022

In the wake of the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Ian as it made landfall across southwest Florida come new health concerns for residents in the impacted areas – ranging from traumatic injuries and waterborne infections to job stressors and mental health impacts.

Matthew Hastings | October 03, 2022

A new study published in today’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) analyzes the benefits and harms of prior authorization (PA) policies for Medicare and the impact these policies have on patients and clinicians. 

Julia Milzer | October 03, 2022

More than three-quarters of students, faculty and staff responding to a campus Police Department survey feel “very safe” or “somewhat safe” on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Guest Contributor | September 30, 2022

Targeting young people with sun-safety education promises the biggest chance of lowering deadly skin cancer rates. The DNA damage that gives rise to the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States accumulates, starting with a child’s first sunburn.

Debra Melani | September 30, 2022

First responders across Colorado and the nation are headed to areas ravaged by Hurricane Ian to assist in recovery efforts. While the acute effects of the tragedy are the prime concern in the short term, experts say psychological effects could persist in the long-term for both survivors and emergency personnel.

Laura Kelley | September 30, 2022

In a bioengineering lab below Children’s Hospital Colorado, sugar water burbles softly as it flows from a beaker into a breadbox-sized unit connected to wires. The setup is small and inauspicious, but the “power harvest” taking place offers huge potential for millions of people living with implanted devices, including pacemakers, neurostimulators and prosthetic devices.

Chris Casey | September 29, 2022

A device known as a bionic pancreas, which uses next-generation technology to automatically deliver insulin, was more effective at maintaining blood glucose (sugar) levels within normal range than standard-of-care management among people with type 1 diabetes, a new multicenter clinical trial has found. The trial, conducted partly at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus was primarily funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Guest Contributor | September 29, 2022

One in six people who suffer from low back pain may find relief with a new, minimally invasive procedure, offered exclusively by Peter Lennarson, MD, at UCHealth Spine Center on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Guest Contributor | September 27, 2022

As the season changes and we inch closer to winter, healthcare professionals are gearing up for this year’s flu season. How do researchers shape annual vaccine design? What kind of flu season are we in for? What happens when we get more than one vaccine at once?

Kelsea Pieters | September 27, 2022

Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment – an early stage of memory or cognitive ability loss – have a particular challenge in their diagnosis and treatment: Only 16% of seniors receive regular cognitive screenings as part of their primary care, and as high as an estimated 95% of elderly patients with memory concerns don’t receive a diagnosis until the disease has significantly progressed. 

Matthew Hastings | September 27, 2022

The University of Colorado (CU) and STAR HARBOR will collaborate on an initiative aimed at meeting space workforce needs while also advancing the emerging field of space medicine, the leaders of both organizations recently announced.

Staff | September 20, 2022

Research in health equity and social determinants seeks to understand disparities and affect real change, yet the national data collection systems investigators rely on for their work are incomplete and hardwired for structural racism, Shale Wong, MD, MSPH, told attendees of the 10th annual Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute academic summit on Sept. 14.

Guest Contributor | September 19, 2022

As the nation reels from a substance abuse crisis that’s shattering lives every day, scientists and clinicians across the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus work diligently in their labs and clinics, hoping to prevent tragedies of addiction.

Debra Melani | September 19, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that a new imaging information system may ultimately provide a faster, more accurate prognosis for certain cancers.

Laura Kelley | September 19, 2022

Disparities in healthcare and health outcomes are not solely about income. Or education. Or access, according to author Linda Villarosa. They are also about race.

Laura Veith | September 16, 2022

Live music, stilted performers and a line of 15 food trucks transformed the generally quiet Bonfils Circle on campus on Sept. 14, as the 2022 Anschutz Block Party made its return for the first time in three years.

Kiley Kudrna | September 16, 2022

The National Institutes of Health will invest $130 million over four years, pending the availability of funds, to accelerate the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the biomedical and behavioral research communities.

Kelsea Pieters | September 13, 2022

Elizabeth Schrock, EdD, MSW, has been named assistant vice chancellor and Title IX coordinator for the Office of Equity at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus.

Chris Casey | September 13, 2022

Casey Greene, PhD, chair of the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s  Department of Biomedical Informatics, is working toward a future of “serendipity” in healthcare – using artificial intelligence (AI) to help doctors receive the right information at the right time to make the best decision for a patient. 

Matthew Hastings | September 12, 2022

How do you solve a puzzle with hidden pieces? That’s the question researchers focused on pediatric Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face every day, as only 20% to 25% of their young patients under 5 years old present with a diagnosis-confirming genetic factor. Identifying the remaining children with the serious disorder presents a vast challenge.

Matthew Hastings | September 08, 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – an umbrella term for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – often involves a difficult journey to diagnosis, particularly for children. Yet detecting IBD early in pediatric patients decreases risk of growth and puberty delay and the need for surgeries.

Matthew Hastings | September 06, 2022

An average of 130 people take their lives each day in the United States, making it the 12th leading cause of death.

Laura Kelley | September 06, 2022

Focused on warding off a cold-weather surge of coronavirus infections and on revamping the COVID-19 vaccine response, health experts approved a new and likely improved version of the vaccine for the first time since the virus emerged.

Debra Melani | September 05, 2022

What would you do in an active harmer situation? Are you signed up for emergency alerts on campus and where you live? Do you carry a safety kit in your car?

Guest Contributor | September 02, 2022

Jeffrey Jacot, PhD, who oversees the Jacot Lab for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, easily gets pumped about his work.

Chris Casey | September 01, 2022

A new study suggests that therapeutic interventions to treat neurodevelopmental disorders may be more effective if done during the early stages of brain development.

Julia Milzer | September 01, 2022

Energy drinks now constitute a multibillion-dollar industry, luring shoppers with their colorful cans and life-changing promises: “Clears brain fog.” “Burns body fat.” “Provides superhuman performance.”

Debra Melani | August 29, 2022

Artemis I sits on the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, waiting to begin her 39-day mission to the moon and back. This critical mission, which was scheduled to launch Aug. 29 but due to engine issues has been postponed until late September, will test boosters and the Orion spacecraft that will eventually carry astronauts through space.

Laura Kelley | August 28, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered how to extract critical information about breast cancer tumors and disease progression by analyzing blood plasma rather than using more invasive tissue biopsies.

“This is simply a blood draw,” said the study’s senior co-author Peter Kabos, MD, associate professor of medicine in the medical oncology division at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and CU Cancer Center member. “This allows us to look under the surface to see the defining characteristics of the disease. The advantage is that we don’t need to do repeated tissue biopsies.”

David Kelly | August 25, 2022

On Aug. 18, alumni, friends, faculty and staff gathered on campus for the fifth Loyal Benefactor Celebration. This event honors those who make ongoing annual gifts to support the university, those who have included the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in their estate plans, and faculty and staff who give through payroll deduction. After a two-year hiatus, the return of this special event was met with joy by over 140 attendees.

Guest Contributor | August 24, 2022

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is pleased to add the Multidisciplinary Center on Aging at the University of Colorado as a Recognized Health Navigator Training Program. Recognized programs must demonstrate that their training curricula meet the entry-level core competencies for individuals to become credentialed health navigators in Colorado. Building the health navigator workforce is a core component of the state’s strategy to eliminate barriers to accessing health care and promote positive health outcomes for all Coloradans. 

Guest Contributor | August 23, 2022

Meet Krinkle, a professional therapy dog who works at the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center. He and his handler, Samantha McBride, PsyD, senior instructor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, were certified as a therapy dog team in 2015 through Freedom Service Dogs (FSD).

Kiley Kudrna | August 23, 2022

Joseph Gal, PhD, was trained in chemistry, is fluent in French, and spent most of his career in medical science research. More recently, he focused his activities on the history of science and more specifically on the renowned French scientist Louis Pasteur.

Laura Veith | August 22, 2022

Human anatomy is a universe unto itself – fine-tuned and intricate, and quite delicate. The stakes are very high when a surgeon must navigate, as in the case of a base skull specialist, the labyrinth of miniscule cranial nerves and blood vessels deep within the brain.

Chris Casey | August 22, 2022

Forever chemicals, or phthalates, are ever-present in our lives, from plastic packaging to household products to personal-care commodities. We can’t avoid them entirely, but we can minimize their influence on our health.

Kiley Kudrna | August 16, 2022

This episode of CU Anschutz 360 focuses on a promising breakthrough therapy for patients with large B-cell lymphoma, an aggressive subtype of the disease. The clinical trial was led by Manali Kamdar, MD, clinical director of the lymphoma program in the Division of Hematology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Chris Casey | August 16, 2022

Over 60 years ago, Bill Wilson, the man behind the largest sobriety program in history, tried LSD and began publicly touting the psychedelic drug as a way toward recovery from alcoholism. Today, a growing number of studies suggest the Alcoholic Anonymous co-founder’s revelation might be right.

Debra Melani | August 15, 2022

Family, friends and positive attitudes helped Katherine Haug through months of failed attempts at ridding her body of cancer. Then a passionate doctor with an experimental treatment gave the wife, mother and grandmother a big reason to smile.

Debra Melani | August 15, 2022

Editor’s note: This is part of our periodic series of articles showcasing the creative talents of our faculty and students on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. If you know of someone who is a “Creator in the Classroom,” please send us a tip here.

Guest Contributor | August 08, 2022

In November 2021, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus was designated a Rare Disease Center of Excellence by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). CU Anschutz experts are highlighted in the latest edition of Denver magazine 5280 for their work in research and treating rare diseases.

Kiley Kudrna | August 08, 2022

Over the past 50 years, The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect has changed the culture of children’s rights worldwide. Established in 1972, The Kempe Center became the first of its kind, providing research, training, education and innovative program development for all forms of child abuse, neglect and trauma.

Guest Contributor | August 04, 2022

All cells in the human body secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs), tiny membrane-enclosed sacs that deliver important cargo – including RNA, proteins, lipids and DNA – to other cells. Cancer cells, notorious for rapid growth, are prolific EV creators.

Chris Casey | August 02, 2022

A new study released by the University of Colorado Cancer Center shows that more than 70 percent of breast cancer patients have reported changes that affect their sexual health during and beyond treatment.

Laura Kelley | August 02, 2022

Biotech founders in the making, get ready. A new life-science startup incubator is coming to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Guest Contributor | July 29, 2022

Plagued by severe depression all his adult life, Aaron Serna has lived through years of ups and downs so low nothing could pull him out of the darkness. Job losses, failed relationships, forced hospitalizations and months of isolation and despair mark his 37 years of life, with thoughts of ending it planned out – all the way to the circled day on his calendar.

Debra Melani | July 29, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have shown a direct link between vagus nerve stimulation and its connection to the learning centers of the brain. The discovery may lead to treatments that will improve cognitive retention in both healthy and injured nervous systems.

Laura Kelley | July 28, 2022

A new study from the University of Colorado Cancer Center explores which lung cancer patients are the best candidates for novel therapies that directly target a gene identified as driving certain cancers.

Julia Milzer | July 27, 2022

Fitzsimons Innovation Community has launched a new interactive website reflecting an environment centered on biotech collaboration and surrounded by amenities that support health innovation. The new website was built with site selectors in mind, to aid new companies in choosing the Aurora-based innovation center for their home.

Staff | July 26, 2022

BA.5, the latest omicron variant, now accounts for nearly every new SARS-CoV-2 infection in the state, and community levels are high across the Denver metro area, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

Debra Melani | July 26, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have investigated how antiviral proteins called interferons interact with SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, focuses on how the innate arm of the immune system defends against this coronavirus. The work resulted from a collaborative effort by multiple scientists, including the laboratories of Mario Santiago, PhD, associate professor of medicine, and Eric Poeschla, MD, professor of medicine, both at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Kelsea Pieters | July 25, 2022

Is melatonin safe for children? Can you take it in addition to other medications? Luke E. Orth, PharmD, BCPPS, an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and a clinical pharmacy specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, addresses the factors to consider when taking melatonin to help you fall asleep.

Kiley Kudrna | July 25, 2022

What’s it like living when you are dying?

It’s a question palliative care provider and instructor Jonathan Treem, MD, fields so often, he derived an analogy in answer.

It’s like being in a perpetual horror movie, where a killer lurks inside your home, he says. You’re the main character, alone with the murderer, who lies in wait. As you creep from dark room to dark room, searching for a monster sure to overpower you, the dread builds.

Debra Melani | July 22, 2022

A new study published in PNAS highlights a newly identified mechanism of how auditory sensitivity is regulated that could temporarily reduce sensitivity of the auditory system to protect itself from loud sounds that can cause irreversible damage.

Kelsea Pieters | July 22, 2022

Currently, there are no disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson’s disease that can change the progression of the disease. An international team of scientists led by faculty at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is hoping to change that.

Julia Milzer | July 21, 2022

Demonized in the early 1960s despite promising research, psychedelic drugs are making a resurgence as therapeutic tools, capturing the eye of medical scientists and the public. Two initiatives destined for Colorado’s November ballot would open the door to treatment in the state and likely ease the launching of studies at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Debra Melani | July 20, 2022

Melissa Haendel, PhD, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and her team of data scientists have been working at a lightning-fast pace for two years, unlocking some of the mysteries of long COVID. Not only have they been instrumental in the development of the largest national, publicly available HIPAA-limited dataset in U.S. history – the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) – but their research using the data is making headlines and getting the attention of the White House.

Wendy Meyer | July 20, 2022

Could oxidative stress, a condition known to cause inflammation and cellular breakdown, impact the trajectory of Down syndrome cell development?

Guest Contributor | July 19, 2022

Since June, the number of COVID-19 infections started rising again, as the most transmissible omicron variant started picking up delta variant mutations leading to new subvariants BA.4/BA.5 and Deltacron variants. Out of all the five known variants of concern, which have been shown to evade therapeutic antibodies and vaccines developed against unmutated, original SARS-CoV-2 virus, delta is the most virulent leading to severe symptoms and increased mortality among infected people. A new peer-reviewed study provides answers to why delta is the most lethal variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Julia Milzer | July 15, 2022

Diane Gates Wallach has a head for business and a heart for science. When she pursues both – blending her knack for strategy with a desire to better the world – her imagination comes alive. No frontier looks insurmountable when the right talent is involved.

Chris Casey | July 14, 2022

In a qualitative, interview-based study of emergency department leaders, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus found most were motivated to provide high-quality pediatric sepsis care but disagreed on how best to do it.

David Kelly | July 14, 2022

David Engelke, PhD, dean of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Graduate School, announced today that he will retire in January. 

Matthew Hastings | July 13, 2022

The SPARK | REACH program welcomes its newest cohort of fellows, who will join the existing fellows from cohort four funded in 2021. The SPARK program, established in Colorado in 2018, assists University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus faculty and researchers in the process of translating their discoveries into products that will improve patients’ lives.

Guest Contributor | July 11, 2022

Fifty years ago, on June 23, 1972, a federal mandate barring sex discrimination in an educational setting receiving federal financial assistance was signed into law. This federal mandate is what we commonly refer to as Title IX.

Guest Contributor | July 11, 2022

Their names could fill in the most adorable starting nine in a baseball lineup – Rony, Scout, Oly, Kaiser, Max, Lani, Jet, Reece and Wolfgang. 

Matthew Hastings | July 06, 2022

Susan Ingram, PhD, has been named vice chair of research in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, effective July 15. Ingram will be the inaugural Richard Traystman, PhD, endowed chair in anesthesiology.

Guest Contributor | July 06, 2022

An unusually late surge in flu cases this spring should remind everyone that, as far as nasty viruses go, these are unprecedented times. Since the novel coronavirus joined the picture in 2020, what doctors see in their offices and hospital beds has continually bucked the norm.

Debra Melani | June 29, 2022

Two commonly used psychiatric drugs show evidence of improving symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, including boosting cognition, according to a study from researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

David Kelly | June 29, 2022

As medical researchers dig for answers behind Long COVID, unexplained liver disease in children and unusual behaviors of common respiratory viruses including influenza, a rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine for the country’s youngest age group is underway.

Debra Melani | June 28, 2022

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) struggled with their mental health during the COVID-19-induced lockdowns and subsequent restraints on community services, according to a new study published today in Psychiatric Services.

Kelsea Pieters | June 23, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus discovered that while exercise activates muscles, which is critical for bone health, intense exertion over long periods contributes to a metabolic cascade that may lead to a loss of bone mineral density (BMD).

Chris Casey | June 21, 2022

It takes a certain tenacity to ride a bike across the country. That's even more true when a person is suffering from a rare disease. But Glenn Frommer is doing just that, and inspiring others along the way. Frommer is riding over 5,300 miles from San Francisco to Boston to raise funding and awareness for polycystic kidney disease (PKD).

Kiley Kudrna | June 21, 2022

On a warm afternoon in November 2021, a handful of volunteers gathered under a small tent at Boettcher Commons, cheerfully laying out T-shirts, lanyards, stickers and buttons on a table. The buzz in the air was about more than just the kickoff event’s swag and snacks: After years of disconnection and pandemic-induced isolation, the clouds literally parted for the opening of the CU Anschutz LGBTQ+ Hub, the university’s first-ever official, campus-wide organization dedicated to connecting and championing the LGBTQ+ community at CU Anschutz.

Kristen O'Neill | June 21, 2022

As Michael Corigliano peers through goggles and shifts the paddles in his hands, a digitized human body tilts and swivels on a giant flatscreen TV. Complex structures in the body – nerves, arteries, glands, organs and muscles – appear in bright colors.

Chris Casey | June 16, 2022

Although unconfirmed, legend has it that the pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialty emerged because of the prevalence of tots sticking foreign bodies (FB) in those orifices. At least that’s what Sarah Gitomer, MD, was told more than once during her training in the field.

Debra Melani | June 13, 2022

A new study published in today’s issue of PLOS Pathogens is the first to link SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells to lung function and those who suffer from long-term COVID symptoms. Long COVID currently affects hundreds of millions of Americans.

Laura Kelley | June 09, 2022

Researchers have discovered that infiltrating gliomas, a common brain and spinal cord tumor, are shaped by their genetic evolution and microenvironment, a finding that could lead to more targeted treatments.

David Kelly | June 09, 2022

Jonathan Samet, MD, MS, the third and longest-serving dean of the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH), will step down from the top post pending a completed nationwide search for his replacement, administrators announced today.

Debra Melani | June 08, 2022

During the May 27 spring convocation, the Graduate School announced the recipients of the dean’s awards, formally recognizing graduate students and faculty who have made a positive impact on the training environment and culture at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Guest Contributor | June 08, 2022

At a time when the demand for mental health professionals is greater than ever, the CU Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine is offering undergraduate students a doorway into careers in this critical field.

Matthew Hastings | June 07, 2022

A new study published in today’s issue of Biochemistry is the first to explore the effects of multiple mutations in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants. The findings can help scientists better understand the properties of current and new variants.

Julia Milzer | June 07, 2022

Today, the AB Nexus program announced its fourth round of grant awards to faculty from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Colorado Boulder. From advancing new cancer and diabetes treatments to developing AI tools to diagnose dementia, the selected teams bring together experts from multiple disciplines to advance basic science and translational research that improves human health and well-being.

Megan Lane | June 06, 2022

The Boettcher Foundation has selected eight researchers, including four from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, to receive funding through the Boettcher Foundation’s Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Awards Program.

Staff | June 06, 2022

Short people might be the same as you and me, unless you’re tall.

Kelsea Pieters | June 02, 2022

Excitement filled the air on the morning of May 27 as University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus graduates, their families and loved ones lined the lawn of Boettcher Commons. It was the first fully in-person spring commencement ceremony in two years, and everyone wanted to celebrate.

Kiley Kudrna | May 31, 2022

It’s sun season in Colorado, which is good news for the state’s multitudes of outdoor-recreation enthusiasts. Unfortunately, Colorado’s high altitude coupled with abundant sunshine make the state a leader in skin cancer rates.  

Matthew Hastings | May 31, 2022

News of a mysterious liver disease circulating in young children around the world – coupled with recent media reports of 13 cases under review in Colorado – has triggered alarm among some parents. While not surprising, especially on the heels of a pandemic that upended the lives of all ages, a general consensus among experts is that it’s not time to panic.

Debra Melani | May 25, 2022

Starting the process of finding a therapist can be overwhelming. Emily Hemendinger, MPH, LCSW, assistant professor of psychiatry in the University of Colorado School of Medicine, walks through the questions you should ask yourself before starting therapy, the different types of therapy and what to expect at your first session.

Kiley Kudrna | May 24, 2022

The unusual spread of monkeypox from West and Central Africa, where it has occurred sporadically, has health experts on alert. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week issued a health advisory asking clinicians to be on the lookout for the virus’s characteristic rash and fever.

Chris Casey | May 23, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Defense Health Agency (DHA) signed an official Educational Partnership Agreement on May 18. The agreement will facilitate collaborations between military personnel and CU, including joint research, internships and ongoing relationships with DHA experts.

Laura Veith | May 20, 2022

Affected patients describe being gripped by “profound sadness” or “paralyzed” by bouts of anxiety and exhaustion. The feelings of perinatal mood disorders, which often result in a sense of hopelessness, strike mothers during what should be one of the happiest times of their lives.

Debra Melani | May 20, 2022

A new study released by the Colorado School of Public Health evaluated the structural and outbreak factors associated with reporting foodborne outbreaks and found that the number and types of foodborne outbreaks reported varied substantially across states, with high reporting states reporting four times more outbreaks than low reporting states.

Laura Kelley | May 18, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a leader in the field of integrating pharmacogenomics into clinical care.

Megan Lane | May 17, 2022

A research team supported by the National Institutes of Health has identified characteristics of people with long COVID and those likely to have it. Scientists, using machine learning techniques, analyzed an unprecedented collection of electronic health records (EHRs) available for COVID-19 research to better identify who has long COVID. Exploring de-identified EHR data in the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C), a national, centralized public database led by NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), the team used the data to find more than 100,000 likely long COVID cases as of October 2021 (as of May 2022, the count is more than 200,000). The findings appear in The Lancet Digital Health.

Guest Contributor | May 17, 2022

The term burnout has been tossed around frequently the past two years.

Most people know the feeling, but what can you actually do about it? Tyra Fainstad, MD, visiting associate professor of internal medicine, and Adrienne Mann, MD, assistant professor of hospital medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine decided they wanted to do something to address the root of the problem, so they created and implemented Better Together, a physician coaching program for trainees. The duo answers common questions and addresses misconceptions about burnout.

Editor’s note: This interview was edited for clarity and brevity. 

Kiley Kudrna | May 16, 2022

Researchers are working to better prepare for the next pandemic.

Wendy Meyer | May 16, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus today announced the creation of the Gates Institute, a state-of-the-art facility that will focus on rapidly translating laboratory findings into regenerative, cellular and gene therapies for patients.

Julia Milzer | May 11, 2022

Fueled by a major investment by the Gates Frontiers Fund, a newly announced Gates Institute on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus will stand ready to transform the frontier of regenerative medicine and cellular and gene therapies in the Rocky Mountain region.

Debra Melani | May 11, 2022

Worldwide focus on the novel SARS-CoV-2 reversed momentum that was halting an age-old killer. Tuberculosis (TB) remains the world’s most-lethal infectious disease after COVID-19, and, according to an infectious disease expert at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, health experts had planned to end the TB epidemic by 2035.

Chris Casey | May 10, 2022

After overcoming the challenges of setting up a program as the pandemic descended on Colorado, the University of Colorado Diabetes Research Center (DRC) seems to be hitting its stride.

Guest Contributor | May 09, 2022

Michelle Barron, MD, presented for the Women in Leadership Speaker Series on April 27, a perfect choice by organizers seeking a woman leader during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barron, a professor of medicine in the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a top infectious diseases expert in the state, was front and center of the public health crisis during the past two and a half years.

Kiley Kudrna | May 09, 2022

Prowling the kitchen for a late-night snack, I spotted a jar of peanut butter in the cupboard. I picked it up, twisted the lid and felt a jolt of pain in my wrist. I twisted harder and the pain turned to agony. A sense of dread crept over me. I put down the jar and stepped away.

Laura Kelley | May 09, 2022

Well over 1.3 million Americans are living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network. The potentially debilitating disease turns the body’s immune system against itself, attacking tissues and joints. Left untreated, the disorder can lead to deformed joints and disability.

Laura Kelley | May 09, 2022

Generous donors to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus gave nearly $135,000 to support health equity initiatives during the campus’s first Giving Day on April 14.

Staff | May 06, 2022

A coaching program aimed at decreasing burnout among female resident physicians significantly reduced emotional exhaustion and imposter syndrome while increasing self-compassion over a six-month period, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

David Kelly | May 06, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine are exploring a new frontier in 3D printing – developing new and more durable materials designed specifically for inkjet printing that can be made quickly and customized for each patient. 

Matthew Hastings | May 03, 2022

Moksha Patel, MD, is a busy man. He recently finished a fellowship in the Division of Hospital Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where he is now a senior instructor. He’s been appointed lead physician informaticist for the Institute for Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Efficiency at CU Anschutz and is working toward an MBA at CU Denver.

Kelsea Pieters | May 02, 2022

A star took center stage at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus on April 26, where the award-winning “guest” was presented by some of its greatest fans to a roomful of many new admirers.

Debra Melani | May 02, 2022

Fitzsimons Innovation Community welcomes four new members to its Board of Directors: Curtis Gardner, public sector solutions manager for Waste Management and councilman at-large for the City of Aurora, Tom Gronow, president and CEO of UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Afshin Safavi, president and CEO of Safavi Holdings, and Dustin Zvonek, president and owner of Zvonek Consulting and councilman at-large for the City of Aurora. Each will serve a two-year term and join seven returning members to complete the Community’s Board of Directors.

Staff | May 02, 2022

Boundless gratitude for the vital roles of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the entire healthcare community was on display at the annual Benefactor Recognition Dinner on April 27.

Danielle Davis | April 29, 2022

Sgt. Corey Childers remembers when the pocket-sized nasal pumps – new devices to take on patrol – arrived at the University of Colorado Anschutz Police Department. It was late 2016, and the nation was reeling from a brutal wave of overdoses in the growing opioid epidemic.

Chris Casey | April 29, 2022

For years, Richard Johnson, MD, professor of renal medicine in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has investigated the impact of sugar, especially fructose, on the human body and how we process it. He recently published “Nature Wants Us to be Fat,” a book outlining why evolution has programmed us to overeat on the promise that we will lose the weight during lean times. 

Kiley Kudrna | April 28, 2022

For more than 20 years, Richard Johnson, MD, has investigated the impact of sugar, especially fructose, on the human body and how we process it. He’s found that evolution has programmed us to overeat on the promise that we will lose weight during lean times. However, it’s no longer feast or famine – it’s just feast. 

Kelsea Pieters and David Kelly | April 27, 2022

Removing red tape in the healthcare hiring process is a top priority for U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, who held a town hall April 23 to discuss pending legislation aimed at improving access and delivery of care for veterans and military service members. 

Guest Contributor | April 26, 2022

The University of Colorado is making changes to its online education strategy to better meet the needs of students and adjust to lessons learned during the pandemic about how best to serve a growing market.

Staff | April 26, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are joining efforts to improve the lives and healthcare of the 61 million Americans living with disabilities, a number expected to rise in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Laura Veith | April 25, 2022

University of Colorado presidential finalist Todd Saliman visited the CU Anschutz Medical Campus on April 21 in the final stop of a four-campus tour.

Matthew Hastings | April 25, 2022

Each year we honor one of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus’s greatest assets – our remarkable faculty – with the faculty awards. These accolades recognize superior accomplishments in teaching and leadership.  

The awards are special not only because they acknowledge outstanding performance in our core areas as a university, but also because they are recognition by colleagues and students of this exemplary work.

Staff | April 25, 2022

The University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are leading a $3.3 million project to advance stem cell research in low Earth orbit.

Guest Contributor | April 21, 2022

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper visited the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus on April 14, hearing from CU and UCHealth leaders on how they joined efforts in the battle against COVID-19 and touring the new Anschutz Health Sciences Building (AHSB). The senator’s aim was to take lessons learned back to the U.S. Capitol to help guide legislation and manage the country’s future health crises.

Matthew Hastings | April 19, 2022

Careers in public health are both critically important and noble. They address systemic inequities, educate the public, increase access to information and care, and develop ways to improve the lives of entire populations.

Guest Contributor | April 18, 2022

In 1986, Jill Norris had a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in hand and pondered what to do next. She decided to pursue a doctorate in epidemiology and applied to a few schools. An invitation from a renowned figure in the field not only cemented her decision but also set her on a lifelong professional path to an elite position among her peers and now, international recognition.

Guest Contributor | April 18, 2022

It’s your first day back in the office in almost two years. You’re anxious. Some thoughts run through your mind: How am I going to work for eight hours straight at my desk? What am I going to do for lunch? How am I going to cope with so much personal interaction? How did I commute to the office five days a week before the pandemic?

Kiley Kudrna | April 15, 2022

Trained as a computer scientist and engineer, Antonio R. Porras, PhD, became fascinated by craniofacial research – specifically the diagnosis and treatment of craniosynostosis, a skull-growth disorder ­– while working at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Chris Casey | April 15, 2022

Last fall, the CU Anschutz Medical Campus community took part in the Campus & Workplace Culture (CWC) Survey. The survey was led by the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement and the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, a part of a broader effort underway on all CU campuses.

Matthew Hastings | April 13, 2022

A joke about bald heads by comedian and presenter Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony last month stung patients and providers of alopecia areata (AA) around the world. Actor Will Smith’s shocking slap to Rock’s face in response ignited public awareness of a disorder that steals the hair of nearly 7 million people in the United States, many of them children.

Debra Melani | April 12, 2022

Tom Colicchio, renowned chef and head judge on the popular Bravo TV series “Top Chef,” has a discerning palate in the best of circumstances. But during an especially difficult time, when his father was being treated for a serious illness, Colicchio’s focus on one of the great comforts – quality food – became even more pronounced.

Chris Casey | April 12, 2022

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer among adult men. In recent decades, however, research and treatment innovation for this disease have lagged. Thomas Flaig, MD, vice chancellor of research for CU Denver and the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, recently presented findings from a 10-year-long effort to study bladder cancer biomarker development and treatment.

Laura Veith | April 11, 2022

Faculty members Gee Mei Tan, MD, and Erin Stewart, MD, MS, from the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine developed, practiced and delivered the first MOCA Simulation Course in the new Center for Advancing Professional Excellence (CAPE) at the new Anschutz Health Sciences Building on March 26. 

Staff | April 11, 2022

Longtime University of Colorado benefactors and siblings, Alan Cogen and Judi Cogen, continue to have a significant impact on the Denver community. Thanks to their recent gifts, the Cogens are assisting underserved populations in the metropolitan area.

Danielle Davis | April 08, 2022

A new study discloses that firearm retailers and law enforcement agencies support providing firearm storage to their community.

Julia Milzer | April 06, 2022

The family of actor Bruce Willis recently announced that he would be stepping away from acting following an aphasia diagnosis – a language disorder caused by damage to the areas of the brain responsible for expression and comprehension. 

Matthew Hastings | April 06, 2022

James Burton, MD, a transplant hepatologist, regularly sees the ravages caused by alcohol in patients. A decade ago, most severe alcohol-related liver cases were in older patients, but increasingly, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Burton and his colleagues are treating younger patients.

Chris Casey | April 05, 2022

A 25% jump in alcohol-associated deaths in the United States in 2020 doesn’t surprise Joseph Schacht, PhD. The clinical psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, who specializes in the treatment of alcohol and other addictive disorders, has seen an increase in patients whose drinking rose during the pandemic.

Laura Kelley | April 05, 2022

Watching the Columbia space shuttle launch in 1982, a young Kjell Lindgren set his sights on becoming an astronaut. His appetite grew until, in 2015, he found himself tending to one of the first plants grown off-Earth on the International Space Station (ISS). The taste of that first space adventure – and the red romaine lettuce – was beyond anything he’d dreamed.

Chris Casey | April 05, 2022

The classrooms of Barnum Elementary School in Denver echo with the chatter of students and the instruction of teachers. The white, waist-high, curved machine in the corner is quiet as can be.

Laura Veith | April 05, 2022

Americans 50 and older who are four months post-booster shot received the green light last week for COVID booster No. 2. An unexpected age drop combined with a receding threat of infection have some people in the approved group asking questions before rolling up their sleeves for a fourth time.

Debra Melani | April 05, 2022

Robin Gabriels, PsyD, MA, is studying how equine therapy in youth with autism has led to a decrease in their symptoms while boosting verbal and social skills. The outcomes last at least six months after the therapeutic riding ends. Now she wants to understand the physiology behind it all.

David Kelly and Russell Stone | April 01, 2022

Researchers have developed a miniature microscope that is designed for high-resolution 3D images inside the brains of living mice. By imaging deeper into the brain than previously possible with miniature widefield microscopes, the new lightweight microscope could help scientists better understand how brain cells and circuits operate.

Guest Contributor | March 31, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and their international collaborators have discovered that a protein critical in the embryonic stages of life is reactivated in certain cases of mesothelioma, offering clues into the origin of this aggressive cancer.

Laura Kelley | March 30, 2022

Schools and colleges of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are again ranked among the best in the country on the 2023 U.S. News & World Report annual ranking of higher education programs.

Staff | March 29, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus will soon expand its career pathway opportunities for students thanks to new federal funding. 

Matthew Hastings | March 29, 2022

A new study shows that a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease may also improve cognitive function in people with Down syndrome.

Julia Milzer | March 29, 2022

As Americans cross their fingers, hoping the pandemic stays behind them, scientists across the country remain focused on the novel coronavirus, intent on combating its next move.

Debra Melani | March 28, 2022

Intense light activates proteins shown to protect against lung damage in mice, a discovery that could have major therapeutic implications for treating acute lung injury in humans, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

David Kelly | March 23, 2022

Two things happen when Teri Schreiner, MD, MPH, diagnoses a 10-year-old with multiple sclerosis (MS): It breaks her heart and inspires her research.

Debra Melani | March 22, 2022

As a young girl in the 1940s, Helen Morris, MD, saw a world rocked by atrocities and on the brink of momentous change. Eighty years later, Morris, who was among a small group of women doctors in Colorado early in her career, sees history repeating itself.

Chris Casey | March 21, 2022

As office buildings refill with employees, and grocery stores bustle with mask-less shoppers, a question remains during the biggest lull in the COVID-19 pandemic yet: What about the children?

Debra Melani | March 17, 2022

Uncertainty and new questions are some of the first things that come to mind for Katherine Dickinson, PhD, assistant professor of Environmental & Occupational Health at the Colorado School of Public Health, when recalling Dec. 30, 2021 – the day of the Marshall Fire. 

Matthew Hastings | March 15, 2022

After an official groundbreaking in January 2019, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus community has watched as a surface parking lot was transformed into a 396,000-square-foot facility to drive the next generation of translational health science research, mental and behavioral health, education and personalized clinical care.

Matthew Hastings | March 15, 2022

More than one in nine Americans 65 and older are now battling Alzheimer’s disease, and the numbers are expected to greatly increase in the coming decades as our population ages.

Chris Casey | March 11, 2022

After a loved one dies, mourners are left to process a range of emotions – depression, guilt, anger, anxiety, numbness, regret. In some cases, even peace or relief can arise as conflicting feelings. Often, a combination of feelings can strike at once. 

Kiley Kudrna | March 11, 2022

It started with the wind. Ripping across the plains on the morning of Dec. 30, 2021, gusts over 100 mph made for an unusual Colorado weather day just before the new year. 

Matthew Hastings | March 11, 2022

As the nation moves into the least-infectious period since the start of the pandemic, with Colorado’s governor last week ushering the healthy and fully vaccinated back into a mask-less and more normal life, some experts warn against moving too fast.

Debra Melani | March 11, 2022

Acute amounts of lactate like those generated during exercise are probably required for healthy cells, but chronic exposure causes cellular disruption which can lead to cancer, heart failure and type 2 diabetes, according to a new study by scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

David Kelly | March 10, 2022

While practicing medicine at Denver Health, Lilia Cervantes, MD, researcher and associate professor of hospital medicine and director of immigrant health at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, treated socially marginalized patients with kidney failure who had no access to standard dialysis care. These patients could only receive dialysis at the emergency room when their health was in critical condition. 

Kiley Kudrna | March 09, 2022

Whether it’s dangerous side effects with Ambien or poorer heart health with type 2 diabetes, women often react to drugs and disease differently than men. Yet studies behind these sex and gender differences in medical science are still relatively scant.

Kiley Kudrna | March 07, 2022

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Colorado Denver have received the Military Friendly Schools: Gold Award designation, officials announced Monday. The award recognizes the top colleges and universities in the country that do the most to embrace military students and dedicate resources to ensuring veterans’ academic and future success, according to the Military Friendly website. Gold Award winners have programs that scored within 20 percent of the 10th-ranked institution within a given category.

Staff | March 07, 2022

Sometimes life takes unexpected turns and puts you on a path you could never foresee. That was true for Donald “Don” Egan, MD ’66 (Resident ’70). His first career started in 1958 with the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he quickly learned he would not be suitable as the next Maverick.

Danielle Davis | March 04, 2022

Years of targeted advertising by tobacco giants turned menthol cigarettes into a racial issue, hooking mostly Black Americans on the minty-tasting tobacco products. Now public health experts at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have rallied a powerful community effort to reverse a deadly trend and social injustice. 

Laura Veith | March 04, 2022

For many of us, the unrest in Ukraine may be the first time we are seeing images and videos from a war across the world on our phone screens minutes after an explosion. We now have a front-row seat to war on top of remaining on edge from the pandemic, economic uncertainty, climate change, a global refugee crisis, polarized politics and other psychological tumult.

Kiley Kudrna | March 04, 2022

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by a team of researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus significantly advances the understanding of a key aspect of the immune system during COVID-19: the interferon response.

Chelsea Donohoe | March 02, 2022

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have pinpointed for the first time a bacterium that could trigger rheumatoid arthritis. Their look at the gut microbiome’s potential role in the autoimmune disorder could offer clues in defining what patients are most at risk for the disabling disease.

Chris Casey | March 01, 2022

Extract from the bark of the Neem tree may help treat and reduce the spread of coronavirus, according to a new study led by scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

Julia Milzer | February 28, 2022

When Blake Martin, MD, packs up his two tots for preschool and outings, he knows their chances of ending up in the hospital with COVID-19 are slim. Many parents breathed huge sighs of relief when the mysterious virus of 2020 turned its focus away from the country’s littlest citizens.

Debra Melani | February 25, 2022

Melissa Haendel, PhD, has many goals as a prominent data scientist and the first-ever chief research informatics officer for the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. All research on the academic medical campus stands to benefit from her team, skilled in the emerging field of data science.

Debra Melani | February 25, 2022