Research Awards Ceremony Celebrates Scientific Contributions

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus hosted its third annual Research Awards ceremony to recognize the accomplishments of the campus research community. More than 100 people gathered on Feb. 27 to cheer on their colleagues, who were recognized in 10 award categories.

“This event is always a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the depth, strength and collaborative spirit of the CU Anschutz research community,” said Thomas Flaig, MD, vice chancellor for research at CU Anschutz. “The dedication of our faculty, students and staff is inspiring, and it was an honor to recognize our team for their significant scientific contributions.”

The Award Ceremony Review Committee received more than 170 nominations this year, making the task of selecting the winners a challenging one.

Wendy Kohrt, PhD, receives the Faculty Research Excellence Award from Thomas Flaig, MD, during the 2023-24 CU Anschutz Research Awards.

This year’s Faculty Research Excellence Award went to Wendy Kohrt, PhD, professor of geriatric medicine at the CU School of Medicine (SOM) and professor of epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH). With 275-plus original research publications, Kohrt is a renowned leader who has made exceptional contributions to the field of metabolic research, particularly related to exercise in older adults.

Two faculty members were awarded the Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Lectureship Award, a new category this year, for their research accomplishments:

Dana Dabelea, MD, PhD, endowed professor and founding director of the ColoradoSPH Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, was honored for her decades of impactful investigations to better understand and prevent early-onset diabetes.
David Schwartz, MD, distinguished professor at the CU SOM, was recognized for his exemplary work as a scholar, mentor and research leader in the field of pulmonary fibrosis.

This award includes a subsequent celebration and lecture to showcase the winners’ impactful and innovative research, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Other awards recognized research excellence, support and mentorship among faculty, trainees and administrative team members. The full list of winners is below, and an event recording is available online.

2023-24 CU Anschutz Research Award Winners

Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Lectureship Award