Page 10 - Gates-AnnualReport-2014

3 Development of a clinical research program in Dermatology capable of translating new discoveries into new treatments:
Robert Dellavalle, MD, PhD, has become a leader in outcomes research and evidence based medicine, and
has worked to develop the translational program in the Department of Dermatology. Five years ago Anna Bruckner, MD, was recruited from Stanford to lead Pediatric Dermatology clinical research. Two years ago Cheryl Armstrong, MD, was recruited as division head of Dermatology at Denver Health and Hospitals, a key component of the teaching and clinical research network in the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She will also participate in translational research projects currently underway in the Department of Dermatology. Finally, in the fall of 2013, April Armstrong, MD, MPH, was recruited to lead our clinical research program as Vice Chairman of Clinical Research in Dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. April Armstrong is a rising star in clinical research and has been effective in coordinating Department Clinical Research with the renowned resources of the Colorado Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CCSTI) and Colorado Health Outcomes (COHO) to develop an excellent clinical and translational research program in Dermatology at the University. The Gates Center was instrumental in all of these recent recruitments.
4 The Establishment of the Gates Biomanufacturing Facility:
The Gates Center has established the Gates Biomanufacturing Facility, a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
facility, described in more detail on page 23 of this report in partnership with the University of Colorado Health, Children’s Hospital Colorado, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and the private sector. The GMP facility will address a critical need to translate cell therapy research discoveries by Gates Center and other University faculty into the clinic. As such, this facility is integral to the ability of the Gates Center to fulfill its core mission, which is to utilize stem cell technology to cure debilitating diseases.
5 Establishment of the Global Skin Diseases Research Consortium (GSDRC): Our NIH-funded Skin Diseases Research Center has entered into an agreement to form a Global Skin Diseases Research Consortium with five other institutions. This consortium is described in detail under the “Education” section on page 27.
6 Redesign of the NIH Training Grant in the Department of Dermatology
This established training grant was completely redesigned with Dennis Roop as the Principal Investigator,
who recruited an impressive multidisciplinary team of trainers and mentors; 16 of 24 of the training faculty
are new. The redesigned training grant emphasizes understanding the molecular basis of human autoimmune, inflammatory, developmental, metabolic and genetic skin diseases and development of genetically engineered mouse models that mimic these disorders at both the genetic and phenotypic levels. Further, preclinical models (including mouse models) will be utilized to assess the feasibility of stem cell approaches to therapy. A renewal of the T32 application was submitted in May, 2014, with an overall objective to prepare trainees for a successful academic career in cutaneous biology research at academic institutions. The renewal application received an outstanding score and will be funded in July, 2015.
10 Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine