The Translational Genomics Research Institute announced that its charitable arm, the TGen Foundation, received a $3 million donation from Cox Communications to help its genetic-based research efforts. The donation is the largest single charitable contribution made in the history of Cox-Arizona, and permanently designates the cable television, digital telephone, and Internet service provider as a TGen Founding Principal.

The President and Scientific Director of TGen, geneticist Dr. Jeffrey Trent, was joined by Sen. John McCain, Gov. Janet Napolitano, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, TGen board chair Jose Cardenas, Cox-Arizona vice president and regional manager Steve Rizley, and more than 300 business and community leaders at TGen's temporary labs in Tempe.

At the event, Napolitano said the institute "has opened the eyes of the world to the potential of the Valley" and has already made the metro area an international leader in genomics research, according to the East Valley Tribune.

Cox-Arizona's regional manager said that the gift fit with his company's larger philanthropic goals. "The scientific discoveries that this and other donations support will have a positive impact on patients and families everywhere," Rizley said. "What better thing can we do than that?"

As part of its gift, Cox will be promoting TGen's research efforts through a series of informational public service announcements broadcast on their cable system, according to the Tribune.

The TGen Foundation, formed in July, is governed by a 12-member board and charged with raising funds to support TGen and its mission, which is to translate genomic discoveries into clinical advances for patients of a wide variety of diseases, including autism, prostate cancer, and diabetes.

TGen's permanent facility in downtown Phoenix is currently under construction and set to open in early December.

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For more information:

TGen news release, 10/19/2004

"Cox donates $3 million to TGen," Business Journal, 10/19/2004

"Cox gives $3 million to Translation Genomics Research Institute," East Valley Tribune, 10/19/2004

"Cox donates $3 mil to TGen," Arizona Republic," 10/19/2004