For Immediate Release: October 30, 2025
NEWS RELEASE
Denver, Colorado – The University of Colorado Denver and the University of Colorado Anschutz, in partnership with Colorado BioScience Institute, have received nearly $1 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand the Quality Assurance (QA) and Regulatory Affairs (RA) Certificate Program.
The collaboration, designed with direct input and ongoing support from industry, will prepare more Coloradans for high-paying, in-demand life sciences careers. The strategic NSF investment, awarded through the Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) initiative, comes at a critical time for Colorado’s fast-growing life sciences ecosystem.
This federal grant funding supports one of Colorado’s highest-growth advanced industries and ensures the state remains competitive as demand for skilled talent accelerates. Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem generates $52.4 billion in annual economic impact and employs nearly 41,000 people in high-paying, mission-driven jobs averaging $123,000 per year.
Addressing Critical Life Sciences Workforce Needs
Across the U.S., life sciences employment has increased by 80 percent over the past two decades, with direct employment of 2.2 million Americans. This rapid growth has outpaced the supply of skilled professionals, especially in QA and RA, where employers consistently report the most persistent hiring challenges.
Under the leadership of CU Denver and CU Anschutz’s Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Pediatrics, and Medicine Chelsea Magin, PhD, who serves as principal investigator, the program was developed in response to industry demand for skilled quality and regulatory professionals and crafted alongside close to 40 life sciences companies in partnership with Colorado BioScience Institute.
“The QA/RA Certificate Program directly responds to Colorado’s life sciences companies’ needs for highly skilled quality and regulatory talent, and offers participants opportunities for high-paying, in-demand jobs in a mission-driven industry,” Magin said. “We are building and upskilling a workforce ready to ensure quality, safety, and innovation in the development of lifesaving and life-changing medicines, tests, and technologies for patients.
Colorado BioScience Institute serves as a core partner and co-developer of the program. Institute Vice President Meg John will provide leadership as co-principal investigator, guide advisory board engagement, and oversee student mentorship opportunities. Colorado BioScience Institute will also lead recruitment efforts, deliver mentor programming, and connect learners to career pathways across Colorado’s growing life sciences sector.
Real-World Experience and Pathways to High-Wage Careers
The QA/RA Certificate Program combines online coursework with hands-on learning. Participants complete microcredentials that stack into a certificate and can also be applied toward an undergraduate or graduate degree in bioengineering. Each participant is paired with an industry mentor through Colorado BioScience Institute and completes a three-day, in-person capstone hosted by life sciences companies in Aurora, Boulder, Metro Denver, Northern Colorado, and the high-tech U.S. 36 corridor. The capstone includes company tours, collaborative problem-solving, and a career fair connecting learners directly with hiring employers.
“Through the QA/RA Certificate program, co-developed by Colorado BioScience Institute, CU Denver | CU Anschutz, and life sciences industry partners, we are equipping professionals with vital, high-demand skills,” said John. “This program provides accessible training, mentorship, and career support to help learners succeed at every stage of their professional journey and the grant reinforces the importance of Colorado BioScience Institute’s leadership, cultivating and diversifying Colorado’s life sciences workforce, from classroom, to campus, to career.”
Collaboration to Strengthen Colorado’s Talent Pipeline
The QA/RA Certificate Program reflects the power of partnership among academic and research institutions, federal funding agencies, nonprofit industry organizations, and Colorado’s life sciences community. It expands access to technical careers, increases earning potential for professionals across disciplines, and aligns directly with employer needs.
The Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs Certificate Program is offered through the Department of Bioengineering at CU Denver | CU Anschutz, part of the College of Engineering, Design and Computing (CEDC).
“I’m thrilled about our new QA/RA program and the impact it will have on Colorado’s biomedical and life sciences sector,” says Dean of CU Denver’s College of Engineering, Design and Computing Martin Dunn. “With innovative features like stackable credentials, competency-based pathways, and deep industry partnerships, it exemplifies our commitment to build the state’s next-generation biomedical workforce in new and creative ways.”
The bioengineering program is a dual campus program, hosted on CU Anshutz’s campus as the only bioengineering program in Colorado located on a medical campus, providing students with a unique opportunity to study at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and innovation. Delivered online with a three-day, in-person capstone project, the program is designed to accommodate working professionals and students across educational levels, including those without a college degree. Competency-based admissions broaden access for learners with diverse experiences, and the mentorship model ensures support throughout their professional journey.
Investing in Colorado’s Economic Future
Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem continues to grow as one of the state’s leading advanced industries. In 2024, Colorado life sciences companies and research institutions secured $2.15 billion in new capital, reinforcing strong confidence in the region’s innovation capacity. Denver–
Boulder ranks among the top 20 global clusters for life sciences R&D, a designation that underscores the importance of workforce readiness programs like QA/RA.
“Colorado’s momentum as a global life sciences hub is driven by our reputation for highly educated talent,” said Elyse Blazevich, president & CEO of Colorado BioScience Association and president of Colorado BioScience Institute. “The partnership behind this new program reflects our ecosystem’s deep commitment to collaboration, addressing workforce needs and preparing Coloradans for rewarding, high-paying careers that power health innovation.”
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, D-Colo., recognized the national importance of the grant, noting:
“Students want to build sustainable futures, Colorado has companies ready to hire them, and now we are investing in programs that train them. This grant strengthens U.S. leadership in biotechnology and ensures Colorado continues to grow the next generation of innovators.”
Graduates of the QA/RA Certificate Program will play vital roles in ensuring regulatory compliance, product safety, and quality across Colorado’s expanding life sciences ecosystem. Their success strengthens both individual opportunity and the state’s economic competitiveness.
About the University of Colorado Denver
Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We’re the state’s premier public urban research university with more than 150 in-demand, top-ranked bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners—at any stage of their life and career—for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.
About Colorado BioScience Institute
Colorado BioScience Institute cultivates and diversifies Colorado’s life sciences workforce, from classroom, to campus, to career. The Institute team nurtures an early love of science with STEM education, engages students and teachers through hands-on experiences, and empowers employees with professional development. The Institute’s leadership in widening the life sciences talent pool supports the state’s economic growth, builds a skilled, diverse workforce to advance health innovation, and elevates people with purpose-driven, high-paying jobs. cobioinstitute.org
About the University of Colorado Anschutz
The University of Colorado Anschutz is a world-class academic medical campus at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus encompasses the University of Colorado health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes and two nationally ranked independent hospitals – UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital Colorado – which see more than two million adult and pediatric patient visits yearly. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, CU Anschutz delivers life-changing treatments, patient care and professional training and conducts world-renowned research fueled by $910 million in annual research funding, including $757 million in sponsored awards and $153 million in philanthropic gifts.
Media Contact
Sheliah Reynolds
Primavera Group for Colorado BioScience Association and Colorado BioScience Institute
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Jennifer Woodruff (she/her)
Director of Public Relations & Integrated Media
University Communications
CU Denver
MediaTips@ucdenver.edu
720-515-1375