b'Amy Parsons, J.D., President Sally Hatcher, J.D., Managing Partner Callie Weiant, J.D., President Shannon Bird, J.D., M.B.A.Colorado State University Buff Gold Ventures CaliberMRI Colorado State RepresentativeM aking Colorado a leading locationconnections among community, industry,unit, part of CSU STRATA, identifies innovative for health innovation requiresand government, says Parsons. At CSU,ideas and technologies in every department visionaries, risk takers, problemwere fostering more team science and wereand college, and puts them on a path towards solvers, and program builders. Women holdworking to increase collaboration with thecommercial development through traditional these pivotal roles in our state, guiding majorentire life sciences innovation community,licensing, entrepreneurship, corporate strategic institutions and initiatives that support the dis- including CBSA, Innosphere, State of Coloradopartnerships, and open IP consortiums. covery, development, and growth of next-gen- economic development assets like OEDIT, ourA continuous dialogue with the life sciences eration health technologies.neighboring academic institutions, and federalcommunity provides industry with awareness Diversity drives ingenuity. From cell and genelaboratories in the state.of CSUs current technology portfolio, while also therapy to precision medicine, connected careParsons cites the Infectious Disease Researchproviding our researchers with awareness of to digital health solutions that integrate artificialCenter (IDRC) as an extraordinary example ofindustrys challenges. There are more than 60 intelligence and machine learning, ColoradosCSU as a leading land grant university. It is astartup companies based on CSU technologies women leaders focus on innovations withcenter where scientists, students, and busi- and we expect to see many more in coming impact. These trailblazers advance research,nesses work together to serve the needs of ouryears, says Parsons.develop talent, speed breakthroughs to market,state, nation, and world by developing methodsColorado is home to thriving startups, leading and support company attraction and formation. to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease. Thetech companies, and one of the nations IDRC exists to find new solutions to ongoinghighest concentrations of federally funded LEADING AN EXPANSIVEglobal health threats, as well as to prepare forresearch facilities. RESEARCH INSTITUTION tomorrows emergencies.The people of Colorado comprise one of the Amy Parsons, J.D.CSU is a powerhouse in the area of infectiousmost talented, collaborative, and highly-edu-President, Colorado State University disease, as well as on the forefront of transla- cated groups in the country, says Parsons. We Colorado State University President Amytional medicine, diagnostic technology, animaloffer an unmatched lifestyle, with a community Parsons, J.D. is excited about the universityshealth, and agricultural sciences. A primecommitted to human and animal health, sus-burgeoning research portfolio, and about theexample is CSUs AgNext program. It is a first- tainability, clean technology, and renewable ways CSU is bringing discoveries from the lab- of-its-kind collaborative that connects world- energy. These all add up to form an ecosystem oratory to the world. After a career as a lawyer,class researchers with industry and developsperfect for innovation. Colorado is where ideas, a CSU administrator for 17 years, and the CEOinnovations that support healthy animals andpeople and industries intersect and connect. of a private company, Parsons returned to herecosystems, as well as thriving communities alma mater to serve as president in early 2023.and businesses. This programs work includes She oversees the Carnegie R1 institution, whichcollaborations across the College of Agricultural had $457 million in research expenditures inSciences and the College of Veterinary MedicineLEARN and Biomedical Sciences, which houses the fiscal year 2022. For Parsons, building on thenations number two veterinary medical school. MOREuniversitys world-class research programs, and collaborating with Colorados innovativeCSU is committed to bringing promising dis- Video Interview withecosystem are keys to the future of discoverycoveries from laboratories to the world, so thatCSUs President and research application. CSU research can benefit as many people as Some of the most significant innovationspossible. The universitys technology transfer come from interdisciplinary research and 2023-2024 BIOSCIENCE COLORADO 23'