Impact

bale lab

Building Community Engagement

Dr. Bale was recruited to CU to develop new programs in-line with the strategic research and community impact objectives of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. In formulating the mission and directives for these programs, The Bale Lab will ensure that while  strengthening the existing basic and clinical research programs and building translational bridges, their focus would be on ensuring community is a focus.

Tracy Bale with Dr. Jill Biden.
Dr. Jill Biden's visit to the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus.
Dr. Tracy Bale with colleagues at the White House.
Dr. Tracy Bale on a recent visit to the White House.
Dr. Tracy Bale on Fox45 News.
News Interview with Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen about the impact of the Trauma Summit
Baltimore Ballet After Dark performed at the Trauma Summit.
Baltimore Ballet After Dark performed at the Trauma Summit
Baltimore City Mayor, Brandon Scott, speaking about Trauma Care.
Baltimore City Mayor, Brandon Scott, spoke about Trauma Care in Baltimore
Engagement with Detroit Trauma Project community.
Engagement with Detroit Trauma Project community
Dr. Jill Biden's visit to the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus.
Dr. Jill Biden's visit to the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus.
Dr. Tracy Bale on a recent visit to the White House.
Dr. Tracy Bale on a recent visit to the White House.
Dr. Tracy Bale at BRAIN Fest Denver
Dr. Tracy Bale at BRAIN Fest Denver
Bale Lab's Brain Camp.
Bale Lab's Brain Camp.
Bale Lab's Brain Camp.
Bale Lab's Brain Camp.
Engagement with Detroit Stress Project community
Engagement with Detroit Stress Project community
Baltimore City Mayor, Brandon Scott, spoke about Stress Care in Baltimore
Baltimore City Mayor, Brandon Scott, spoke about Stress Care in Baltimore
Baltimore Ballet After Dark performed at the Stress Summit
Baltimore Ballet After Dark performed at the Stress Summit
News Interview with Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen about the impact of the Stress Summit
News Interview with Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen about the impact of the Stress Summit
Tracy Bale giving a speech.

I hold The Anschutz Foundation Endowed Chair in Women’s Integrated Mental and Physical Health Research at the Ludeman Center, and thus a significant focus of my research and mentorship is on women’s health and sex as a biological variable.

Engaging in the community has been a key focus in my leadership roles and development throughout my career, including forming collaborations and partnerships with local organizations, health officials, social workers, and policy makers. Community engagement is critical for the advancement of research, medicine, and education.

A group of kids of Bale Lab's Brain Camp.
University of Colorado's celebration of Dr. Bale's Endowed Chair

BRAIN Fest Denver

The mission: break down the walls between researchers and the public and show that learning about the brain can be accessible, artistic, and even hilarious!

From science-infused, stand-up comedy to massive brain art and kid-powered experiments, we lit up neurons across Aurora and Denver with BRAIN Fest, a month-long celebration that took brain science and mental health conversations out of the lab and into the neighborhood. The series of events provided space for authentic community connection, and a mutually beneficial learning experience that brought perspective on the importance of science research.

NeuroVesica

A significant focus of my research has been understanding the biological mechanisms that influence brain health and mental illness, and translating those discoveries into better approaches to treatment. NeuroVesica grew out of a shared commitment with psychiatrist Dr. Neill Epperson to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and clinical care.

Too few promising research discoveries make it beyond published papers and into the lives of individuals living with mental illness. Through NeuroVesica, we are working to change that by developing a precision psychiatry platform that uses extracellular vesicle (EV) proteomics, AI, and computational modeling to predict individual responses to psychiatric treatments.

Our goal is to advance more personalized approaches to mental health care, improve the development of new treatments, and ultimately help connect individuals with the care that works best for them.

THOMPSON LAB