FORT COLLINS - Colorado State University and the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic College of Medicine have signed a multi-year agreement to collaborate on research to develop oncology and infectious disease treatments.

CSU's growing reputation as a leader in biomedical research was cited as a reason for the creation of the partnership, which will be focused at the Mayo Clinic's Scottsdale, Ariz. campus.

"The goal of this collaboration is to bring new diagnostic tests specifically related to cancer and infectious diseases to aid us in advancing biomedical research in oncology and to bring potentially new diagnostics and therapeutics to our patients," said Ronald J. Marler, M.D., associate director for research and research alliances at Mayo Clinic.

Tony Frank, CSU provost and senior vice president, said the partnership promises to be fruitful. "Mayo Clinic is a worldwide leader in transferring new technology from the laboratory directly to patients," he said. "With Mayo, Colorado State can collaborate on research related to cancer and infectious disease to find solutions to serious health problems affecting the entire globe. At the same time, we can learn more from one of the most successful clinical laboratories in the country about expeditiously moving our technologies and solutions into the marketplace."

CSU's Animal Cancer Center, which has developed treatment applications for both animals and humans, has trained more veterinary surgical and medical oncologists than any other veterinary institution in the world.