University of Colorado Anschutz

Drones Deliver Freeze-Dried Plasma to Ukraine's Front-Line Wounded

Aurora, Colo. – September 23, 2026 -- Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz report a 100% 24-hour survival rate among 26 Ukrainian military personnel who received drone-delivered freeze-dried plasma at the point of injury, a preliminary finding from an ongoing study testing whether unmanned aircraft can bring blood products to critically injured patients before conventional evacuation reaches them.

Drones carry Octapharma-donated plasma to front-line medics in Ukraine

The freeze-dried plasma, donated by global pharmaceutical company Octapharma, is packaged for transport and flown by drone to medical teams operating near the point of injury. Unlike fresh frozen plasma, which requires freezing and thawing, the freeze-dried version can be stored at room temperature and prepared rapidly for administration, addressing a logistical barrier the FDA has identified for battlefield, remote and disaster settings.

CU Anschutz Gets $50M Gift to Build Top CSF Leak Center

Aurora, Colo. – September 22, 2026 -- University of Colorado Anschutz has received an anonymous $50 million gift, one of the largest in campus history, to expand its CSF Leak Program into a world-leading center for diagnosis, treatment and research of cerebrospinal fluid leaks.

Patient survey reveals systemic diagnostic failures across the field

CU Anschutz researchers, working with the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation, conducted the largest patient survey ever done on the condition. Nearly 80% of patients reported being misdiagnosed, seeing a median of more than six clinicians before an accurate diagnosis. More than 60% said long waitlists blocked access to specialized care, forcing many to travel across state lines for treatment.

CU Anschutz Study: Post-Concussion Irritability Tied to PTSD, Pain, Hearing

Aurora, Colo. – September 19, 2026 -- A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Marcus Institute for Brain Health finds that irritability following chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in military veterans stems from a combination of PTSD symptoms, chronic pain and difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments, not a single psychological cause.

Study of 124 veterans links irritability to three distinct factors

Published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, the research examined 124 military veterans, including 61 with chronic mTBI and 63 without any history of brain injury. Participants underwent standardized assessments measuring irritability, PTSD symptoms, chronic pain, balance and auditory processing, including speech-in-noise comprehension.