CU School of Medicine Receives $3 Million for Cancer Research
Contribution from Kerns Help Tackle Disease at Thyroid Tumor Center
The University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Thyroid Tumor Center recently received a $3 million commitment from Jerome H. Kern and Mary Rossick Kern for the advancement of cancer research.
The Kerns recently provided $1.5 million and pledged to provide the remainder in $300,000 installments, establishing the $2 million Mary Rossick Kern and Jerome H. Kern Endowed Chair in Thyroid Tumor Research. The remaining $1 million will go toward recruitment of qualified personnel and laboratory equipment.
The vision for the CU Thyroid Tumor Center is to advance research in this critical area. Dr. Bryan Haugen, director of the Thyroid Tumor Center, will be named to the endowed chair position. With Dr. Haugen’s continued leadership, the center will play a leading role in the understanding of thyroid cancer and its treatment at the new University of Colorado Denver campus at Fitzsimons.
“ The timing of the Kern’s gift was critical,” said Dr. E. Chester Ridgway, head of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the CU School of Medicine. “Dr. Haugen was being recruited by the Mayo Clinic, but thanks in large part to this generous gift, we were able to provide the financial environment to retain one the world’s greatest thyroid specialists.”
The Thyroid Tumor Center is a part of the School of Medicine’s Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. The division, directed by Ridgway, has enjoyed tremendous growth over the past decade. US News and World Report ranks it in the top 12 among national endocrinology divisions. It provides world-class research and clinical care for patients with hormonal conditions.
As part of the Department of Medicine at the CU School of Medicine, the division provides medical students, interns, residents, fellows, research assistants and research scientists with cutting edge educational, research and clinical opportunities. The division sees an estimated 7,000 outpatient visits annually.
“ We understand how critical it is to provide funding for research into diseases such as thyroid tumors,” Mary Kern said. “Patient treatments can be greatly improved if adequate resources are provided to the individuals doing the research. We are confident that by providing funding to Dr. Haugen and his team at CU for ongoing research into this area, patients will ultimately benefit.”
“ The generous gift by the Kerns will enable CU’s researchers and students to expand their research and take that new knowledge into the clinical setting to help patients. We couldn’t be more grateful for the Kern’s desire to partner with us to make a difference in thyroid cancer research,” said CU School of Medicine dean, Dr. Richard Krugman.
Thyroid cancer is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the tissues of the thyroid gland. Located in the base of the throat, the thyroid gland makes important hormones that help the body regulate critical human functions including energy, muscle strength, weight and mood. Thyroid cancer is the eighth most prevalent form of cancer affecting women.
Certain factors may increase the chances of developing thyroid cancer. Primarily, thyroid cancer occurs more often in people between the ages of 25 and 65. It also disproportionately affects more women than men. Thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable cancers and has a high long-term success rate.
