State of discovery.

The Colorado research community is healthy and diverse — one that is characterized by a sophisticated entrepreneurial spirit and true cross-disciplinary collaboration. The research going on in Colorado is spread across a broad spectrum of drug targets and therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, research tools, biomaterials and drug delivery. And the intellectual capital amassed here is on par with other elite bioscience centers around the world. A few numbers help tell the story …

Colorado research momentum.

In 2008 the University of Colorado attracted $661 million in grant funding, mostly from the National Institutes of Health. The lion’s share of these research dollars went to the University of Colorado Denver at the Anschutz Medical Campus adjacent to the Fitzsimons Life Science District.

Connecting the academic and business communities at Fitzsimons and Anschutz is the top-ranking University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office, which facilitates commercialization and collaboration with industry partners. In 2008, intellectual property originating at the University of Colorado led to 237 invention disclosures, 188 U.S. patent applications filed, 28 U.S. patents granted, 58 exclusive and non-exclusive options and licenses, and the formation of 11 start-up companies.

Colorado State University contributions.

There’s also Colorado State University (CSU), which has emerged as another powerful engine of innovation. In its most recent fiscal year, CSU reported 80 invention disclosures, 74 U.S. patent applications with four patents granted, 18 exclusive or non-exclusive options and licenses, and five start-up companies formed. CSU's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is the perfect complement to the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus. CSU's main campus is located in Ft. Collins, which is also the location of the Centers for Disease and Control Division of Vector Borne Infectious Diseases.

Denver’s Medical Research at National Jewish Health.

Another major player in Colorado’s bioscience research community is National Jewish Health in downtown Denver. US News and World Report has named National Jewish the #1 respiratory hospital in America for the last 12 years. But its contribution goes far beyond clinical excellence. Denver medical research at NJH has resulted in 110 active technologies protected by 79 active US patents, 170 exclusive and non-exclusive options and licenses, and 8 start-up companies.

A community without walls.

Although impressive, these numbers hint at what may be an even more important story for any organization looking at Colorado as a potential location. Underlying all the patents, licenses and start-ups is the fact that Colorado’s bioscience community is just that — a community. It has been described as a community “without walls.” An environment where collaboration is seen as the most powerful catalyst for both discovery and commercial success.