麻豆影院

The awards are part of $1.88 million in 2023 biomedical research grant funding for Colorado researchers听

Three 麻豆影院 assistant professors have been named 2023 Boettcher Investigators, each earning $235,000 in grant funding to support up to three years of biomedical research. The 13-year-old program invests in leading Colorado researchers during the early stages of their careers, providing support to fund their independent scientific research.

The three CU 麻豆影院 award winners and their fields of study are:听

• Nuris Figueroa, assistant professor, physics; studying the mechanics of mucus organization and transport;听
• Halil Aydin, assistant professor, biochemistry; investigating cellular and molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial form and function in human health and disease; and听听
• Nick Bottenus, assistant professor, biomedical, mechanics of materials, and robotics and systems design in the College of Engineering and Applied Science; studying binding kinetics of targeted microbubble agents.

Funding for the awards is made possible in part by the听听program, which is administered by the听

鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to be acknowledged by a distinguished organization,鈥� Aydin said of the Boettcher Foundation. 鈥淭he Boettcher听Foundation Webb-Waring Biomedical Research听Award will grant our laboratory the opportunity to听develop novel approaches听and push the boundaries of听high-resolution imaging and structural听cell听biology听to advance our understanding of how cellular machines function normally, and how they are corrupted by disease.听An integrative understanding of how protein machines function has implications for targeting cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, cancers, aging and a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases.鈥�

Figueroa also expressed thanks to听the Boettcher Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Program and for what the funding will mean for her research team鈥檚 work.听

鈥淲ith this research grant, my team and I will have the means to investigate mechanical properties of lung mucus, how it flows, and how bacteria navigate in it,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur research will look at the biophysics of lung-obstructive diseases using new quantitative and interdisciplinary tools, to further understand causes and consequences of failed mucus clearance and hopefully device solutions.鈥�

Bottenus said,听鈥淏eing named a Boettcher Investigator is an amazing career milestone.听I鈥檓 grateful to become a part of a rich community of biomedical researchers throughout Colorado.听This award will allow my group to grow in new directions, applying our acoustics and signal processing techniques to more fundamental biological investigations. I hope that our work will translate to improved diagnostic imaging, personalized medicine, and accessible health care technologies as we pursue new approaches to molecular imaging.鈥�

The awards given to the three CU 麻豆影院 assistant professors are part of a larger pot of $1.88 million grant funding awarded to eight individuals from four of Colorado鈥檚 research institutions: CU 麻豆影院,听Colorado State University and National Jewish Health.听

鈥淲e are thrilled to support our 2023 Boettcher Investigators, and as proud investors in their work, we are confident that these exceptional researchers will continue to push the boundaries of discovery and medical breakthrough,鈥� said Katie Kramer, president and CEO of the Boettcher Foundation. 鈥淭heir innovative research holds the promise of transformational impact that will drive progress in health care and make a meaningful difference in the lives of Coloradans.鈥�

Since its inception in 2010, the Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Awards program has advanced the work of 98 Boettcher Investigators with more than $20 million in grant funds. The researchers have attracted more than $150 million in additional independent research funding from federal, state and private sources.听

鈥淐olorado BioScience Association applauds Boettcher Foundation鈥檚 support of Colorado鈥檚 most dynamic and promising researchers,鈥� said Elyse Blazevich, president and CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association.

鈥淭he Webb-Waring Biomedical Awards program invests in Colorado researchers at a pivotal time in their careers and encourages them to deepen their roots in Colorado as they contribute to the leading-edge health innovations coming from our state.鈥�