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.
Gift funds clinical capacity, physician recruitment and research infrastructure
The funding gives the program flexibility to expand clinical capacity, recruit physician-scientists, advance research, and build infrastructure to reduce geographic and financial barriers to specialty care. Andrew Callen, MD, associate professor of diagnostic radiology and director of the CSF Leak Program, said the investment will help reach more patients and speed research, innovation and physician education.
Program structure diverges from standard neurology and radiology models
Unlike most CSF leak programs, where treatment is folded into broader neurology or radiology departments, the CU Anschutz program is structured to focus exclusively on CSF leak diagnosis, treatment, research, innovation and education under one coordinated mission. The initiative also aims to generate spillover advances in neuroimaging beyond the CSF leak specialty, according to John Sampson, MD, PhD, dean of the CU Anschutz School of Medicine.
Chancellor cites UCHealth partnership in building unprecedented scale
Don Elliman, chancellor of CU Anschutz, said the gift enables construction of a program that does not currently exist at this scale, crediting clinical partners at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital as key champions of the effort to establish the campus as the definitive leader in CSF leak care.