Thomas Flaig
Vice Chancellor for Research
Biography
Thomas Flaig, MD, was appointed vice chancellor for research for the CU Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus in March of 2020. The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research partners with the campus research community to drive scientific discovery, providing comprehensive resources to assist investigators through every step of the research lifecycle. Under Dr. Flaig’s leadership, the office has expanded its extramural funding portfolio, streamlined regulatory processes and enhanced support services to help advance the university’s research mission.
A medical oncologist, Dr. Flaig has been part of the University of Colorado since 2003, when he arrived as a fellow. In 2016, he became the inaugural chief clinical research officer of UCHealth and associate dean for clinical research at the CU School of Medicine. In this role, he led numerous efforts to establish an efficient and optimal environment for conducting research across the campus while coordinating research activities with the university’s clinical partners.
In addition to his clinical and administrative work, Dr. Flaig has significant clinical and translational research experience, having led both local and national multi-center clinical trials and served as a principal investigator on a multitude of Phase I, II and III studies.
Known nationally for his bladder cancer research, Dr. Flaig has been a member of the National Cancer Institute’s Bladder Cancer Task Force. He also serves as chair of the bladder cancer committee for the National Comprehensive Care Network, which regularly publishes internationally recognized treatment guidelines, and co-Chairs the SWOG bladder cancer subcommittee.
In addition, he has personal experience with the translation of lab discoveries to the clinic, having founded a small business to advance work done in his lab and associated patents.