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CURRICULUM VITAE

Catherine Blair Kunst, MBA, PhD

11159 Depew Court, Westminster, CO 80020

cathy.kunst@gmail.com (303)408-6511

EDUCATION

  • M.B.A. Emphasis in Entrepreneurship, University of Colorado at Denver (2004-2006)
  • Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (1988-1994)
  • B.S. Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (1984-1988)

EMPLOYMENT

  • 2008-present Executive Director, Bard Center for Entrepreneurship, Business School, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO
  • 2006-present Cofounder, Beacon Biotechnology, LLC, Denver, CO
  • 2005-2007 Interim Director, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, University of Denver, Denver, CO
  • 2003-present Research Faculty, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, University of Denver, Denver, CO
  • 1998-2003 Scientist, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, Denver, CO
  • 1998-2007 Adjoint Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO
  • 1995-1998 Postdoctoral Fellow (Advisor: Dr. David Patterson), Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, Denver, CO
  • 1994-1995 Research Associate (Advisor: Dr. Stephen T. Warren), Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

  • January 2008 – present Executive Director, Bard Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Colorado Denver

This position reports to the Dean of the Business School at the University of Colorado Denver. Responsibilities include fundraising, budget preparation and oversight (~$1 million annually), community outreach, management of the onsite business incubator, management of the internal venture capital fund, annual business plan competition, and administration of the graduate level academic program. Revamped business model of the Center to be less dependent on philanthropic giving. Expanded the business plan competition to the entire state of Colorado, doubling the number of participants and awards.

  • September 2005 – December 2007 Interim Director, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, University of Denver

This position reported to both the Dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Denver and to the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute Board of Trustees. Responsibilities included fundraising (~$500,000 per year), serving as a liaison to biotech and non-profit tenant companies, budget preparation and oversight (~$2 million annually), preparation of the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute annual report and quarterly newsletters, website maintenance, and overseeing research compliance with all rules pertaining to the use of animals, human subjects, hazardous materials, biohazards and radioactive materials. Coordinated the closure of a 50,000 sq. foot research facility and move of academic research labs nearby University of Denver campus. Assisted in development of new AAALAC accredited animal facility and closure of radioactive material license with the State of Colorado.

  • October 2006 - present Cofounder, Beacon Biotechnology, LLC

Beacon Biotechnology, LLC creates diagnostic microarray devices for both the point of care and research markets. While now largely a silent shareholder, I was involved in research project oversight, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant proposal editing, Private Placement Memorandum drafting and editing, and generalized strategic planning for the company.

CONTINUING & PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

  • Summer 2000 Basic Association & Linkage Course, Rockefeller University
  • Summer-Fall 2007 HERS (Higher Education Resource Services) Institute Denver
  • January 2010 Faculty Development in International Business, CIBER trip to China
  • April 2010 Insight into Philanthropy, Advancement Resources
  • May 2010 Leading from Within 3 day workshop

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Co-Chair Subcommittee on Small Business Development/Higher Education for the Economic Development Council of the Downtown Denver Partnership (2009-present)
  • Ad Hoc Member, AAAS review panel for the Lied Endowed Basic Science Pilot Grants at KUMC RI (2010)
  • Member, Medical Advisory Board, Dani's Foundation (2009-present)
  • Member, CDMRP special emphasis panel on ALS (2009)
  • Member, AIBS special emphasis panel on Autoimmune Disease (2009)
  • Member, Advisory Council, University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office (2008-present)
  • Participant, Silicon Flatiron’s Roundtable on Entrepreneurship & Higher Education for the Governor’s Innovation Council (2008-2009)
  • Member and Ad Hoc Member, BDCN3, now CDIN, NIH Study Section (2001-2008)
  • Member, Beta Gamma Sigma (2006-present)
  • Scientific Advisory Board Member, BP Proteomics, Inc. (2005-2009)
  • Member, American Society for Human Genetics (1994-2009)
  • Winner Mary L. Campbell Biotech Life Science Award & Second Place Overall, Bard Center for Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition, Denver, CO (2005)
  • Ad Hoc Member, AIBS special emphasis panel on ALS (2004, 2005, 2008)
  • Ad Hoc Member, DOD special emphasis panel for Gulf War Research-B (2005)

EXTERNAL FUNDING

Ongoing (unfunded continuation):

  • Identification of Genes that Delay ALS Onset

Principal Investigator: Catherine B. Kunst, Ph.D.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS); 2R01 NS41646-07 5/15/01-4/30/11

The goal of this grant is identify genes that prevent or delay ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Lou Gehrig’s Disease) onset in a mouse model of the disease.

Completed:

  • Protein Expression analysis in mice with delayed ALS onset

Principal Investigator: Catherine B. Kunst, Ph.D.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association 02/01/02-01/31/03

The goal of this grant was to define the spinal cord proteome from normal, ALS and delayed ALS onset mice.

  • Genetic Mapping of ALS Modifier Genes in the Mouse

Principal Investigator: Catherine B. Kunst, Ph.D.

Muscular Dystrophy Association 07/01/00-12/30/02

The goal of this research was to genetically map the genes that modify the expression of the ALS phenotype due to the mG86R SOD1 mutation.

  • Genetic Mapping of ALS Modifier Genes in the Mouse

Principal Investigator: Catherine B. Kunst, Ph.D.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association 08/01/00-07/31/03

The goal of this research was to genetically map the genes that modify the expression of the ALS phenotype due to the G93A SOD1 mutation.

  • Aberrant Protein Interaction in ALS

Principal Investigator: Catherine B. Kunst, Ph.D.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association 02/01/99-01/31/02

The aims for this grant were to investigate the role of protein interactions and cellular mislocalization in the pathogenesis of ALS due to mutations in SOD1.

  • NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship (1996-1998)
  • NIH Postdoctoral Training Grant (1995-1996)
  • NIH Predoctoral Training Grant (1990-1992)

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Teaching:

University of Denver, Denver, CO

  • General Genetics (BIOL 2510) Course director (2007)
  • Human Genetics—The Present (NATS1261) Course director (2005, 2006)
  • The Questions & Controversies of Stem Cell Research Salon facilitator (2005)
  • Modern Alchemy (NATS1261) Course director (2004)

University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO

  • Human Medical Genetics Program Graduate training faculty (2000-2007)
  • First PREP Medical Board Review Course Facilitator (1997)

Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

  • Medical Biochemistry Tutor (1991, 1992); Small group facilitator (1994)
  • Medical Genetics Teaching assistant (1992; Small group facilitator (1995)

Service:

University of Colorado Denver

2009 Co-chair, Enterprise Programs Committee, Business School Strategic Planning Group

University of Denver

  • 2006-2007 Member, Campaign Case Statement Planning Group, University Planning Advisory Committee
  • 2003-2007 Member, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
  • 2003-2007 Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
  • 2007 Interim Chair, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
  • 2006-2007 Member, Search Committee for the Dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • 2005-2007 Member, Information Technology Committee, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • 2010 Member, Internal Review Panel, Boettcher Foundation Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Awards

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

  • 1999-2003 Member, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Mentoring:

University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center

  • PhD Thesis Committee Member for Erin Spiegel Human Medical Genetics Program (2000-2007)
  • PhD Thesis Committee Member for Aaron Knox Human Medical Genetics Program (2000-2007)

University of Denver

Research Project Mentor for Lisa Fischer Department of Biological Sciences (2007)

  • Research Project Mentor for Anandi Ramaswami Department of Biological Sciences (2007)
  • MS Thesis Advisor for Anna Andrianakos Department of Biological Sciences (2006-2007)
  • Research Project Mentor for Adam Aterberry Department of Biological Sciences (2004)
  • Research Project Mentor for Lisa Foley Department of Biological Sciences (2004)

University of Washington, St. Louis

  • Summer Internship Mentor for Jessica Alspaugh Department of Bioengineering (2006)

Publications:

  1. Kawamata H, Magrané J, Kunst C, King MP, and Manfredi G. (2008) Lysyl-tRNA Synthetase Is a Target for Mutant SOD1 Toxicity in Mitochondria. Journal of Biological Chemistry 283(42): 28321-28328.
  2. Kunst CB (2004) Complex Genetics of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. American Journal of Human Genetics 75: 933-947
  3. Kunst CB and Patterson D (2002) Superoxide Dismutases. Wiley Encyclopedia of Molecular Medicine. Vol 5 p. 3059-3061.
  4. Kunst CB. A Tale of Two Modifiers: How some genes affect the expression of neurological disease phenotypes. November 2001. http://www.sciencemag.org/feature/plus/sfg/articles/11_02kunst.shtml
  5. Kunst CB, Messer L, Gordon J, Haines J and Patterson D (2000) Genetic mapping of a mouse modifier gene that can prevent ALS onset. Genomics 70: 181-189
  6. Schmidt P, Kunst C, Culotta VC (2000) Copper activation of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in vivo: Role for protein-protein interactions with the copper chaperone for SOD1. Journal of Biological Chemistry 275: 33771-33776.
  7. Gunter C, Paradee W, Crawford DC, Meadows KA, Newman J, Kunst CB, Nelson DL, Schwartz C, Murray A; Macpherson JN; Sherman SL and Warren ST (1998) Reexamination of factors associated with expansion of CGG repeats using a single nucleotide polymorphism in FMR1. Human Molecular Genetics-7(12):1935- 1946
  8. Kunst CB, Leeflang EP, Iber JC, Arnheim N and Warren ST (1997) The effect of FMR1 CGG repeat interruptions on mutation frequency as measured by sperm typing. Journal of Medical Genetics 38: 627- 631.
  9. Kunst CB, Mezey E, Brownstein MJ and Patterson D (1997) Mutations in SOD1 associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cause novel protein interactions. Nature Genetics 15: 91-95.
  10. Kunst CB, Zerylnick C, Karickhoff L, Eichler E, Bullard J, Chalifoux M, Holden JJJA, Torroni A, Nelson DL and Warren ST (1996) FMR1 in global populations. American Journal of Human Genetics 58:513-522.
  11. Eichler EE, Kunst CB, Lugenbeel KA, Ryder OA, Davison D, Warren ST and Nelson DL (1995) Evolution of the cryptic FMR1 CGG repeat. Nature Genetics 11: 301-308.
  12. van den Ouweland AMW, Dellen WH, Kunst CB, Uzeilli M-LG, Nelson DL, Warren ST, Oostra BA and Halley DJ (1994) Loss of mutation at the FMR1 locus through multiple exchanges between maternal X chromosomes. Human Molecular Genetics 3: 1823-1827.
  13. Kunst CB and Warren ST (1994) Cryptic and polar variation of the fragile X repeat could result in predisposing normal alleles. Cell 77: 853-861.
  14. Gorlin JB, Warren ST, Kunst CB, D'Urso M, Palmieri G, Henske E, Hartwig JH, Bruns G and Kwiatkowski DJ (1993) Actin-binding protein (ABP-280) filamin gene (FLN) maps telomeric to the color vision locus (R/GCP) and centromeric to G6PD in Xq28. Genomics 17: 496-497.
  15. Ashley CT, Sutcliffe JS, Kunst CB, Leiner HL, Eichler EE, Nelson DL and Warren ST. (1993). Human and murine FMR-1: alternative splicing and translational initiation downstream of the CGG-repeat. Nature Genetics 4: 244- 251.
  16. Verkerk AMJH, Pieretti M, Sutcliffe JS, Fu Y-H, Kuhl DPA, Pizzuti A, Reiner O, Richards S, Victoria MF, Zhang F, Eussen BE, van Ommen G-JB, Blonden LAJ, Riggins GJ, Chastain JL, Kunst CB, Galjaard H, Caskey CT, Nelson DL, Oostra BA and Warren ST (1991) Identification of a gene (FMR-1) containing a CGG repeat coincident with a breakpoint cluster region exhibiting length variation in fragile X syndrome. Cell 65: 905-914.
  17. Kunst C, Kliegman R and Trinidade C (1989) The glucose-galactose paradox in neonatal murine hepatic glycogen synthesis. American Journal of Physiology 257 (Endrocrinol. Metab. 20): E697-E703.

Presentations:

  1. Kunst CB. Invited Lecture on Career Transition. 2010 Accelerated MBA program at the University of Colorado Denver.
  2. Kunst CB. Invited Lecture on Trends in ALS Research. 2010 University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
  3. Kunst CB. Panelist, CEO Leadership Roundtable, 2009 Downtown Denver Leadership Roundtable, Downtown Denver Partnership
  4. Kunst CB. Panelist, Making Institutional Service part of YOUR Plan, 2009 CU Women Succeeding: Sixth Annual Faculty Development Symposium, University of Colorado.
  5. Kunst CB. Entrepreneurship in the Academic Environment. Invited Speaker 2008 HERS Institute, Denver, CO.
  6. Kunst CB. Modifier Genes in Animal Models. Invited Speaker 2002 Environmental Factors and Genetic Susceptibility in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
  7. Kunst CB, Messer L, Gordon J, Haines JL and Patterson D. Genetic mapping of a modifier gene that delays ALS onset in a transgenic mouse model. Presented at the 2000 annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
  8. Kunst CB. Genetic Mapping of ALS modifier genes in the mouse. Invited Speaker 2000 ALS Association Young Investigator Workshop.
  9. Kunst CB, Patterson D and Brennan MB. Suppression of chromosome 21 gene expression using antisense oligonucleotides. Presented at the 7th International Workshop on Chromosome 21.
  10. Kunst CB, Johnson R, Kupfer H, Kupfer A, Gordon J and Patterson D. Aberrant cellular localization of mutant SOD1 associated with ALS. Presented at the 1997 annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
  11. Kunst CB, Brownstein M and Patterson D. ALS causing mutations in SOD-1 generate novel protein interactions. Presented at the 1996 annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
  12. 1Kunst CB, Karickhoff L, Zerylnick C, Holden J, Nelson DL, Sherman SL and Warren ST. Identification of Two polymorphic loci near FMR-1 and demonstration of marked linkage disequilibrium within normal and between abnormal CGG-repeat lengths. Presented at the 1993 annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
  13. Kunst CB, Henske E, Harwig JH, Kwiatkowski DJ, D'Urso M, Bruns G, Warren ST and Gorlin JB. The dystrophin-like actin binding protein 280 gene maps between DXS52 and G6PD overlapping the Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy locus. Presented at the 1992 annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
  14. Kunst C, Kliegman R, Gerken T and Jentoft J. 13C evidence of direct incorporation of galactose for neonatal hepatic glycogen synthesis. Presented at the 1988 annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Research.
  15. Kunst C, Kliegman R and Trinidade C. The galactose-glucose paradox in neonatal murine hepatic glycogen synthesis. Presented at the 1987 annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Research.
  16. Kunst C, Kliegman R and Trinidade C. The glycogen synthesis glucose paradox in newborn rats. Presented at the 1987 annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Research.