Denver Business Journal - by Dick Woodbury Special to the Business Journal

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The Charles C. Gates Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology Program (RMSCB) is planning to establish a new Core facility that will generate mouse and human “induced pluripotent stem” (iPS) cells for the local research community. Will you help by indicating your interest in supporting this facility? (Details below)

The new Core would generate iPS cells from different inbred mouse strains and, if required, insert custom-designed marker genes (e.g. a cell type- or tissue type-specific promoter driving expression of a marker gene such as GFP) into the genome of these cells. In addition, the Core would also generate human iPS cells, including disease-specific iPS cells. The later type of iPS cells will be of particular importance for the development of treatment options for genetic disease, since the iPS cells will be developed from patients in need of treatment.

Help get this Core facility up and running. If you are interested in using Core-provided iPS cells (human or mouse), please contact Peter Koch, Ph.D. and let him know your interest level and when you would plan to use the iPS cells. Peter.Koch@ucdenver.edu (303) 724-0051.

Bike to Work Day is here! No excuses, the Sand Creek Trail does connect to Fitzsimons via Stapleton. You can do it! Though, you will need a bit more of a beefy bike than a road bike for this trail.

You can also take 23rd to Central Park Boulevard, and then ride the trails through Stapleton from Downtown. It takes about 45 minutes. There is a pedestrian bridge so you don’t have to cross Peoria.

Here is a map of Stapleton’s Bike trails as well as a map of Denver’s bike paths.

See you out there!

Printed in the Denver Business Journal, June 17
Magazine honors The Children’s Hospital

U.S. News & World Report recognized The Children’s Hospital as one of the 10 best pediatric hospitals in the nation. The results, announced Wednesday, will appear in the August issue of U.S. News & World Report, which will hit newsstands on July 21.

The hospital qualified for the magazine’s “Honor Roll” in its 2009 edition of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. The Honor Roll is reserved for hospitals that achieved ranking in all surveyed specialty areas covered by the monthly news publication.

Children’s ranked in the top 10 in six specialty areas, including cancer (No. 10), diabetes and endocrine disorders (No. 10), digestive disorders (No. 5), neonatal care (No. 8), orthopedics (No. and respiratory disorders (No. 5).

Last year, Children’s was ranked No. 7 overall among the nation’s pediatric hospitals. In 2007, it finished at No. 4. Because of a change in how the report was compiled, there was no general numerical ranking this year.

Article published in the Denver Business Journal - by Bob Mook

“Colorado’s congressional delegation Tuesday passed another hurdle in its efforts to make a free-standing Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in the Denver area a reality.

The House Appropriations Military Construction/VA Subcommittee voted Tuesday to recommend spending $119 million on the site, which has been on and off the drawing board over the past five years.

The measure, part of the Military Construction and VA Appropriations bill, now goes to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.

Both President Barack Obama and Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter supported a standalone site in Aurora.” Read full story.