Colorado State University recently named two new academic Superclusters that focus on areas of interdisciplinary research strengths within the University. The two newly approved Superclusters - picked from 15 proposals from throughout the University - are Cancer Research and Treatment, and Clean Energy.
The Superclusters were recommended for approval after a detailed review by a committee of distinguished faculty and administrators. Provost Tony Frank and Vice President for Research Bill Farland, with input from President Larry Edward Penley, formally approved them.
"Ongoing work in these areas helps Colorado State rise to a new level of competitiveness in addressing research challenges that are truly global in nature," Dr. Frank said. "Like the Infectious Disease Supercluster, clean energy and cancer research at Colorado State carry international prominence and potential for growth."
Dr. Stephen J. Withrow, a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and Director of the Animal Cancer Center, is the scientific officer of the new academic Cancer Supercluster. Dr. Robert Ullrich, Director of Research at the Animal Cancer Center and a Professor in the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, is research officer. Both are in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. In addition to the academic arm of the Cancer Supercluster, an entrepreneurial arm that will speed the movement of new ideas from lab bench to clinical setting will be announced at a later date.
The Cancer Supercluster is a collaboration that has evolved from the early days of the cancer biology program in the 1960s to the current collaborative efforts that encompass 65 faculty members in 12 departments, across five colleges at Colorado State University. The collaboration continues outside of the University with joint research efforts involving the University of Colorado Health Science Center as well as CU-Boulder, National Jewish Hospital, Children’s Oncology Group, Limb Preservation Institute, Allosource, Varian Medical Systems, NASA, M.D. Anderson Medical Center, Harvard University, and many other private and public entities.
“The Cancer Supercluster will enhance our ability to improve early detection with imaging; follow therapeutic outcomes; and create new biological and pharmaceutical treatments for human and veterinary use,” said Dr. Ullrich. “We also will focus our efforts on cancer prevention by targeting dietary approaches and discovering new biomarkers that are predictive cancer risk. We want to use the strengths at CSU to create collaborative efforts here and beyond for early detection, prevention, treatment and cure.”
Most of the CSU faculty members involved with the Cancer Supercluster come from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, particularly the Department of Clinical Sciences and the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences. Other colleges involved with the Cancer Supercluster include the College of Natural Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Business, and College of Agricultural Sciences.
