2025 Faculty Awards

CU Biochemistry Distinguished Professor Karolin Luger Receives 2025 AB Nexus Award in Partnership with Anschutz Collaborator

Jessica Helzer — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:31:53 +0000

CU Biochemistry Distinguished Professor Karolin Luger Receives 2025 AB Nexus Award in Partnership with Anschutz Collaborator Jessica Helzer Tue, 08/19/2025 - 09:31

AB Nexus Announces 2025 Grant Awards with an Emphasis on Quantum-Focused Research Collaborations

Program supports multidisciplinary research partnerships between CU Anschutz and CU Boulder

The 2025 AB Nexus awardees include two quantum-focused teams, each receiving a $300,000 seed grant, and two teams of early career scientists, each receiving $75,000 in funding. More details on the teams and their research focus areas can be found below.

Harnessing AI-Quantum Computing for Colorectal Cancer Therapies

🔬 Principal Investigators: Daniel LaBarbera, PhD (CU Anschutz), and Karolin Luger, PhD (CU Boulder)

This project uses cutting-edge quantum computing technologies, AI and the resources of the CU Anschutz Center for Drug Discovery to accelerate new treatments for colorectal cancer. By optimizing a promising class of drugs that target a key protein involved in tumor progression, the team aims to improve chemotherapy effectiveness and bring a new therapy closer to clinical trials—all while positioning Colorado as a leader in quantum-powered health innovation.

Complete Details on 2025 AB Nexus Awards

Off

Traditional

White

CU Biochemistry Assistant Professor Vignesh Kasinath Receives Pew Biomedical Science Grant

Jessica Helzer — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 03:57:01 +0000

CU Biochemistry Assistant Professor Vignesh Kasinath Receives Pew Biomedical Science Grant Jessica Helzer Tue, 08/12/2025 - 21:57

Biochemist Vignesh Kasinath will receive four years of funding ‘to uncover fundamental insights about human health and disease

Vignesh Kasinath, a �� assistant professor of biochemistry, has been named a 2025 Pew Biomedical Scholar.

Kasinath is among a cohort of 22 early-career scholars who will receive four years of funding from the Pew Charitable Trusts “to uncover fundamental insights about human health and disease.” Dr. Kasinath will study how cells “silence” transposons, genetic elements whose movement within the genome can disrupt the function of genes.

The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced the 22 researchers joining the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. These early-career scientists will receive four years of funding to uncover fundamental insights about human health and disease.

“For 40 years, Pew has supported young, talented researchers as they take creative approaches to solving big scientific questions,” said Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Pew’s senior vice president for Philadelphia and scientific advancement. “This new class continues that legacy, and we look forward to seeing where their discoveries lead.”

The 2025 class—all early-career, junior faculty—marks the 40th group of Pew scholars to be awarded funding since the program’s founding in 1985. They join a rich network of more than 1,000 Pew-funded scientists and will have opportunities to meet annually to exchange ideas and form collaborations across disciplines.

“Pew-funded scientists have long contributed to biomedical research discoveries that have improved human health,” said Lee Niswander, Ph.D., a 1995 Pew scholar and chair of the program’s national advisory committee. “I’m confident this new class of scholars, with their innovative and creative approaches to scientific research, will continue this tradition.” Niswander is currently the CU Boulder Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCDB) Chair, Principal Investigator, and Distinguished Professor.

CU Boulder Arts and Sciences Magazine Feature

Pew Charitable Trusts 2025 Pew Scholars Awards

Off

Traditional

White

Roy Parker wins 2025 RNA Society Distinguished Research Mentor Award

Jessica Helzer — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:38:53 +0000

Roy Parker wins 2025 RNA Society Distinguished Research Mentor Award Jessica Helzer Wed, 01/15/2025 - 06:38

"The RNA Society is excited to announce that Dr. Roy Parker has been selected to receive the 2025 RNA Society / Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press Distinguished Research Mentor Award. Dr. Parker is an HHMI investigator and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Colorado in Boulder, USA. As a mentor he focuses on clarity of thought and effective communication. For over three decades, Roy has cultivated a lab culture focused on the development of curiosity, rigor, and scientific integrity for his trainees. He advocates for the development of a broad skill set by graduate students during their training (2012 Mol Cell 46:377) while recognizing that every mentee is an individual who needs their own personalized approach. Dr. Parker is well known for his guidance and sponsorship - always willing to provide input into the scientific direction one should take, while also stimulating individuals to take their own path. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Parker on this well-deserved recognition of his exceptional contributions to cultivating the next generation of RNA scientists."

Off

Traditional

White