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2017 GATES GRUBSTAKE FUND UPDATE
2017 Gates Grubstake Award applicants included faculty from several institutions who are developing new therapies, such as pharmaceuticals, biologics, or medical devices, as well as those who are developing diagnostics and platform technologies, such as delivery scaffolds or bioreactors. In November 2017, the SIAC reviewed 12 Grubstake Fund applications and selected seven for oral presentations a month later. Following the committee’s recommendations, each of the following individuals received awards of $350,000.
Valeria Canto-Soler, Ph.D.
Dr. Valeria Canto-Soler is the director of CellSight, the Ocular Stem Cell and Regenerative Research Program in partnership with the Gates Center and Department of Ophthalmology at CU Anschutz. Dr. Canto- Soler was awarded a Gates Grubstake Award for a stem cell-derived retinal transplant to treat dry, age-related macular degeneration. She hopes that one day her research will uncover the cure to blindness through transplanting retinal patches in patients’ eyes.
Martin Zamora, M.D.
Dr. Martin Zamora joined the Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care in 1990 and has served as directing pulmonologist for the Lung Transplant Program since it was founded in 1991. Dr. Zamora was awarded a Gates Grubstake Award for clinical development of autologous CD117+ progenitor cell therapy for solid organ transplantation. His research aims to improve outcomes and quality of life following organ transplantation.
Karin Payne, Ph.D.
Dr. Karin Payne is an assistant professor within the CU Anschutz Department of Orthopedics and is also the lab director for the Payne Regenerative Orthopedics Laboratory. This lab focuses on the regenerative potential of stem cells for bone and articular cartilage tissue engineering to enhance bone fracture repair, improve spine function, and treat articular cartilage defects. Dr. Payne was awarded a Gates Grubstake Award for a bioresorbable 3-D printed personalized implant for cartilage regeneration in pediatric growth plate injuries.
Heather Callahan, Ph.D., J.D., EMBA, is the Gates Center Entrepreneur in Residence. As such, she helps manage the Gates Grubstake Fund and works closely with Gates Center members to help identify the resources needed to develop and protect intellectual property, translate scientific discoveries and commercialize regenerative medicine products.
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