Stop the presses! It is not often that dramatic events require a last-minute addition to a Friday post, but here we are. Yesterday’s news that Dr. Michael Welsh will receive the 2025 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award certainly qualifies. For 80 years the Lasker Foundation has recognized discoveries in basic and clinical science that fundamentally change medical research and the lives of people who depend on it. A Lasker Award is a big deal and Dr. Welsh is a worthy recipient. Many of you already know Dr. Welsh’s story and how one simple question about the movement of chloride ions led to a treatment that has effectively cured 90% of people diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. About 20 years ago, someone with CF could expect to live to age 26. Today, thanks to the work that this award recognizes, that age has more than doubled to 66. More will have plenty to say in the coming weeks about Dr. Welsh’s work and its impact, but I am honored to extend these public congratulations. If you are less familiar with this amazing story of research success, it is fortunate that the college has just finished a documentary about it called Breath by Breath, which will premiere on September 30 at 3:30 pm here on campus. Reserve your free ticket for the screening at that link.

Dr. Welsh is often the first to insist upon the recognition of others’ contributions when praised for his discoveries, and of course, the most successful science is a team sport. Before this incredible news, I had already been thinking about who we are competing against and who we want on our teams. (Speaking of rivalries, last week’s Iowa football game in Ames did not go quite as well as Hawkeyes fans had hoped. This now brings Iowa State’s run to a whopping two Cy-Hawk trophies in a row. This is not quite a record-breaking streak, which Iowa holds at 15, winning every year from 1983 to 1997. Just saying.) Although we are rivals on the field, we have much in common as Iowans committed to missions of academic research and of training future generations. Opportunities for collaboration, such as tapping into Iowa State’s expertise in engineering, agriculture, or veterinary science should be on our minds as we evaluate resources for future grant proposals. Have you worked with investigators at either of our other state institutions on any projects? What made those collaborations successful or what would have made them run more smoothly? Let’s talk!

Photo for Reflection
The Monument to the Discoveries is perched at the edge of the Tagus River in Lisbon, Portugal, where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. The 33 figures along both sides of the monument’s ramp represent key individuals in Portugal’s history, each of whom contributed to the nation’s dominance in exploration. Figures like Vasco de Gama or Magellan are represented, but so are the artists, navigators, mapmakers, and writers, who documented their achievements. These adventurers sailed into the unknown without much more than a theory, a trust in their abilities, and the confidence that their colleagues would try their best. These crews worked together as a team, contributing to a shared goal, and built bridges between continents changing the course of history. Were there times that these men were at odds? Racing to beat each other to certain markers? Without a doubt, but profit or glory could not have been their only driver. Passion and vision have only ever been the true ways to maintain motivation and encourage your compatriots.

Upi’s “Oh, WOW” moment
One of the best models at University of Iowa Health Care of cross-institutional collaboration exists within the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (HCCC). I asked Dr. Mark Burkard, the HCCC’s director, for some current examples. Dr. Burkard pointed to Dr. Margaret Byrne’s leadership in a joint Molecular Tumor Board with the University of Kansas. He also rightly mentioned the newly awarded Neuroendocrine SPORE, a massive grant win, which finds members of our department like Dr. Joseph Dillon partnering with members of Rutgers University in this work. Iowa has long been a recognized leader in treating and researching neuroendocrine tumors, and this renewal and partnership with another Big Ten university further solidifies our status. More to come on this story, but for now congratulations to all who worked hard on this application.

This is not Iowa’s only SPORE membership! Dr. Michael Wendt is also working with an oncologist and researcher at The Ohio State University. He said their collaboration was born during COVID, when he and fellow co-PI Dr. Sameek Roychowdhury connected over a shared interest in FGFR signaling and targeting. “Shared lab meetings,” he said, “led to inviting others, and grew into a working group.” Opportunities abound because of our membership within the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium. And these are just some of the examples of how we can connect with our peers at other schools, to say nothing of the ways in which the HCCC leverages our NCI-designation as a comprehensive cancer center to partner with industry on clinical trials and other research projects. Thank you to all for navigating our way forward into unknown territory!