Arizona Biosciences News

The University of Arizona's new Clinical and Translational Science Institute, a $20 million project that UA hopes will garner another $20 million from the National Institutes of Health, would provide Arizona patients quicker access to research discoveries with the potential to extend and save their lives.

As concern about terrorism has increased over the past decade, so has federal support for defense-related bioscience research. A team of scientists led by Arizona State University is one beneficiary of this elevated priority--to the tune of $40.8 million.

Researchers from the University of Arizona are part of a team of academic and industry scientists from across the country that has received $44 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop new sources of algal biofuels and bioproducts. The federal funds will be matched by the private sector and cost-share funds.

The Flinn Foundation, a private, nonprofit philanthropy based in Phoenix, has appointed longtime Arizona public-sector administrator Cathy McGonigle as executive vice president.

Amid declining economic conditions in 2008 and 2009, Arizona’s bioscience industry continued its rapid growth in high-paying jobs and firms, and the state achieved notable gains in implementing its long-term plan to develop a thriving bioscience sector.

Before Arizona's top bioscience researchers were designing advanced diagnostics, extracting biofuels from algae, or synthesizing drugs to fight cancer, they were twelve year-olds sitting at desks, waiting for class to begin. And then--someone inspired them.

The west side of Phoenix is now home to one of the most sophisticated nanobiologics manufacturers in the world. After a $70 million investment to upgrade and expand the former site of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Abraxis Health officially opened its new protein nanobiologics plant on Nov. 4.

In 2006, Arizona’s three CEO groups pledged to help the state Legislature create Science Foundation Arizona in what would be an unprecedented, $300 million public-private partnership. Since then, SFAz has become a high-impact element in both the state’s bioscience research landscape and Arizona’s economic future. But now, with SFAz facing major funding cuts, its leaders are working to defend hard-won gains.

Using technology licensed from the Translational Genomics Research Institute, and expertise and resources provided by the Phoenix-based nonprofit Catapult Bio, a Virginia startup firm has unveiled new genomic-analysis techniques to enhance dramatically the capabilities of forensic investigators.

The Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has parlayed investment from the State of Arizona into a 2008 direct annual economic impact of $44.5 million, a new study reports. That sum more than doubles the direct impact that a similar study found in 2006.

The Arizona BioIndustry Association (AZBio) has announced the appointment of Robert S. Green, longtime Tucson biotechnology entrepreneur, as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. AZBio is the state affiliate of BIO, the largest international organization representing the biosciences.

Call it Extreme Makeover: High-Tech Edition.  The City of Chandler has decided to dedicate $5.7 million of economic-development funding to convert part of a former Intel Corp. building into a bioscience and high-technology business incubator. By May, the facility should be ready to accommodate up to 30 startup companies.

While universities nationwide continue to slash budgets and leave faculty vacancies unfilled, Arizona State University has managed to add a true all-star to its roster in the biosciences: 2001 Nobel laureate Lee Hartwell, who will assume leadership of the new Center for Sustainable Health at the Biodesign Institute at ASU. Meanwhile, the University of Arizona has its own good news on the faculty front: $12 million to hire top faculty in three areas, including $6 million for new faculty in translational medicine.

Funding from the National Institutes of Health, recognized as the "gold standard" indicator of strength in the biosciences, most often comes in the form of project-specific research grants. But the NIH funds other kinds of projects, too, and among the most important are its resource grants. Two such awards recently announced, with Arizona scientists as their principal investigators, will make major contributions to biomedical education and training in the state.

Scientists at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University are working on dozens of research projects that could become new products and firms—with the right funding and guidance. To provide its most promising ideas the best chance for commercial success, Biodesign is creating a new, $5 million entity: the Impact Accelerator.