Office of Public Relations — Newsroom
News Release
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Jacque Montgomery, 303.724.1528, cell phone 303.928.9093, Jacque.Montgomery@ucdenver.edu
Boettcher Foundation, Webb-Waring and CU Partner to Support Medical Research
Webb-Waring Institute Will Join UC Denver’s New Research Hub at Anschutz Medical Campus
DENVER (July 2, 2008) – Colorado’s medical research industry will receive a boost of up to $40 million by the creation of a grant program aimed at advancing medical research. The program is the result of an innovative agreement among the Boettcher Foundation, the Webb-Waring Institute for Biomedical Research and the University of Colorado.
The Boettcher Foundation will contribute up to $20 million to advance medical research in Colorado to match funding from the Webb-Waring Institute for Biomedical Research and CU, which are contributing about $14 million and $6 million, respectively.
“This agreement will help solidify Colorado’s position as one of the nation’s top places for research and innovation in biosciences,” said Gov. Bill Ritter. “It’s also a great example of what can happen when a private foundation, a public university and an independent research institute come together to address a need that is crucial to our state and our society.”
The governor has asked his Office of Economic Development to work with the entities to explore ways to leverage efforts through potential use of the Colorado Biosciences Fund (created by HB 1001), which has $5 million a year over five years to promote biosciences and technology transfer.
Dr. John Repine, longtime director of the Webb-Waring Institute, will lead the new Webb-Waring Center, which will relocate to the University of Colorado Denver’s Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. The move resolves the issue of Webb-Waring’s long-term lease at CU’s former health sciences campus at Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.
According to Boettcher Foundation and university officials, the partnership is unique in Colorado, and will go a long way to support the state’s medical research industry. The Boettcher Foundation will create a new grant program area that will make awards to Colorado entities for the advancement of medical research. Recipients of the Webb-Waring Medical Research Grants will be decided using merit-based criteria as determined by the Boettcher Foundation.
“We are proud of this agreement and look forward to contributing to one of the state’s fastest-growing and most critical fields,” said Boettcher Foundation President Tim Schultz. “This program is a strong commitment to medical research in Colorado and beyond. Patients across the United States and around the world will benefit from advancements developed in Colorado.
CU President Bruce D. Benson said the agreement will bolster a prime research area for the university.
“Biomedical researchers at CU’s campuses are seeking answers to some of humanity’s oldest health-care challenges,” he said. “We hope this partnership will enable them to continue their work with confidence and with enough resources to advance treatments that could benefit people everywhere. We also appreciate the work of the CU Foundation, which was integral to making this partnership happen.”
Ted White, chairman of both the Boettcher and Webb-Waring Foundations, said, “This arrangement provides for the continuation of the fine research being done by Webb-Waring’s scientists under the leadership of Dr. Repine, and initiates a new funding source for medical research in Colorado by combining the Webb-Waring Foundation assets with funds from CU and a match by the Boettcher Foundation to create the new Webb-Waring Grant Program. The Boettcher Foundation will now be at the forefront of medical research in Colorado.”
The newly established Webb-Waring Center will reside within the UC Denver School of Medicine and its director will report to the dean of the School of Medicine. The school ranks fourth among public medical schools in research funding. Its faculty serve as physicians at University of Colorado Hospital, The Children’s Hospital, Denver Health, National Jewish and the Veterans Administration.
“This expanded partnership is an additional opportunity for UC Denver to assist our long-time partners at Webb-Waring in building on their legacy of contributions to scientific knowledge and patient care.” said Dr. M. Roy Wilson, chancellor of UC Denver. “Today’s announcement also represents another step toward creating the kind of healthcare city on the Anschutz Medical Campus that will truly benefit both our local and global communities.”
Webb-Waring was the only independent, multi-disciplinary anti-oxidant research institute of its type in the United States. Named for tuberculosis research pioneers Gerald B. Webb, M.D., and James J. Waring, M.D, the research center was founded in Colorado Springs in 1924 and was relocated to CU’s medical campus at Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard in 1952 by Dr. Waring, the first chair of medicine at the CU Medical School.
| Name | Affiliation | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Contacts: | Tim Schultz | Boettcher Foundation | 303-489-1344 |
| Ken McConnellogue | University of Colorado | 303-860-5626 | |
| Jacque Montgomery | University of Colorado Denver | 303-928-9093 |
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