The video was created by CNBC as part of a larger special report on Cities of Success. You can view the report in its entirety here.
Aurora, Denver’s biggest suburb, is the epicenter of life sciences research: a 256-acre complex that’s home to the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus, which receives $700 million in annual grant funding. Dan LaBarbera, PhD, is professor of pharmaceutical sciences and founding director of the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences' Center for Drug Discovery.
“Our goal here at the Center for Drug Discovery is to function as a bridge to move innovation from academia, to industry, and then to the clinic,” Dr. LaBarbera told CNBC.
With generous support from The ALSAM Foundation, the Center for Drug Discovery at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus was established in 2020-2021 with a mission to become a hub for drug discovery in Colorado. Colorado is home to some of the most talented academic and industry researchers that are focused on understanding the complexity of human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and many other diseases. As a result, one of the most valuable contributions to health science research in Colorado are the diverse biological models of human disease. CNCB reports that The Denver-Boulder region is becoming a major hub for the life sciences industry, due to a surge in venture capital and government funding, a collaborative research environment and a booming market for lab space.