Colorado Chinese Medicine University Joins RAND REACH Center: A New Era for Research and Grant Development
By Joseph Brady, Chair Research Department CCMU
We are proud to announce that Colorado Chinese Medicine University (CCMU) has been accepted as a member institution of the prestigious RAND Research Across Complementary and Integrative Health (REACH) Center. This is a significant milestone for CCMU, as it further strengthens our commitment to advancing research, education, and collaboration in the field of Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH).
The RAND REACH Center is renowned for its role in supporting research excellence across the CIH landscape. By joining this esteemed institution, CCMU faculty and staff will gain access to a wide range of invaluable resources designed to help us build a stronger research foundation. A key focus of our membership will be on improving our ability to develop competitive research grants. The REACH Center’s virtual research platform provides the tools needed to turn innovative ideas into well-structured, fundable research projects, paving the way for our researchers to submit successful grant proposals.
One of the most exciting opportunities provided by this partnership is the REACH Scholars program, which aims to support the professional development of emerging and developing researchers. CCMU faculty participating in the Scholars program will receive individualized mentorship from RAND experts, focusing on enhancing their research proficiency and expanding their research networks. This program is not only designed to guide researchers through the process of developing their ideas into grant-worthy proposals but also to foster a collaborative environment where they can interact with other CIH researchers from across the country.
As a member of the REACH Center, CCMU will appoint representatives to both the Research Advisory Board (RAB) and the Executive Committee. Our representatives will play a critical role in ensuring that CCMU’s voice is heard in shaping the future direction of CIH research. These positions also offer our faculty and administrative leadership an opportunity to influence policy discussions and contribute to the broader CIH health policy landscape.
Beyond the Scholars program, CCMU faculty and staff will benefit from the virtual research platform, which fosters collaboration and innovation across multiple institutions. This platform is designed to assist researchers in developing ideas, participating in writing groups, and receiving structured support for manuscript and proposal development. RAND’s commitment to supporting our faculty and staff in writing competitive research grants is central to this partnership, offering the training, tools, and mentorship necessary to build robust research proposals that have a higher likelihood of receiving funding.
We believe that this partnership with the RAND REACH Center marks the beginning of a new era for CCMU’s research capabilities. The Center’s expertise, combined with our faculty’s dedication to advancing CIH knowledge, will help position CCMU as a leader in the field. We are excited about the new possibilities this membership offers and look forward to working closely with RAND to foster innovation, collaboration, and success in our research efforts.
