Bioscience
Building Arizona as a global center for research and commercialization in the biosciences.
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Bioscience in Arizona
The Flinn Foundation supports the biosciences in Arizona through research and entrepreneurship grants as well as stewardship of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, guiding the growth and development of the state’s bioscience sector. A third iteration of the Roadmap will be released in fall 2025.
The Roadmap’s tagline, “Advancing the Biosciences and Improving Health Outcomes” recognizes the broad spectrum of the biosciences, including research, academia, and product commercialization, as well as the central role of health care within the bioscience sector.
The biosciences improve our world by developing treatments for health afflictions with safer and more affordable medicines, creating diagnostics that gauge and prevent illness, and strengthening our food supply. In addition, the biosciences strengthen and diversify our economy by creating cutting-edge companies and high-paying jobs.
Flinn to unveil new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap at Sept. 11 online event
The new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap—the long-term strategic plan to accelerate the progress of the state through 2030—will be unveiled during a public online event at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11. This is an opportunity to learn what’s ahead for Arizona as it becomes a nationally recognized rising bioscience leader.
The program will include a look at the Roadmap’s history and progress since its 2002 launch by the Flinn Foundation; an introduction to the new Roadmap by SRI International; and a panel discussion with Arizona bioscience leaders. [Register]
Flinn translational research seed grants application opens Sept. 3
The Flinn Foundation Seed Grants to Promote Translational Research Program awards a combined $1 million each year to 10 Arizona research teams with the potential to turn their findings into viable products and treatments that impact patients.
The application for the next cohort will open Sept. 3. The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 31. The awardees will be announced in March 2026 at the Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference. Researchers must address significant clinical needs in the areas of diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, precision medicine, and health-care delivery. [Learn more]
Navi Nurses founder Jasmine Bhatti: Improving health care for patients — and nurses
On the mainstage at the Flinn Foundation’s inaugural Bioscience Storytellers event, entrepreneur Jasmine Bhatti recounted her experience caregiving for her grandmother — and how it solidified a career in nursing.
Today, the founder and CEO of Phoenix-based Navi Nurses employs 200 nurses across the Valley. The company, a past Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program participant, delivered 30,000 hours of care in 2024 and is scaling its mission to bring coordinated care to Arizonans in medical crises. [Read more]
Bio entrepreneur, Paxauris founder Tony Dietz creates inflatable earplug
Tony Dietz’s work on a ship off the coast of Virginia, coupled with his childhood experiences and risk-taking Australian mindset, led him to become an entrepreneur for the first time.
When he set out to create his earplug prototype, Dietz used memories of the striking silence reached just below a pool surface as inspiration for his company Paxauris and its Fluid™ Earplug inflatable design. Dietz, a two-time participant in the Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program, shares his story. [Read more]
Flinn invests in new ASU medical engineering division
A partnership between the Flinn Foundation, Arizona State University, and Mayo Clinic will help bioengineers work hand-in-hand with clinicians, patients, and health systems to solve real-world clinical problems.
The Flinn Foundation’s $3.3 million, five-year grant that began in early 2024 will help ASU develop its Division for Medical Engineering, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic. Part of the initiative is a master’s degree program that’s the first of its kind in the state: the Master of Science in Innovations in Medical and Patient Care Technologies, or IMPACT MS. Applications are being accepted through Friday, June 13. [Read more]
Arizona biosciences set record highs in research funding, show increasing competitiveness
Arizona continues to outpace the nation in several key bioscience industry and innovation ecosystem metrics, including gains in jobs and academic R&D expenditures. Still, challenges remain in the areas of commercialization and venture capital deal activity.
Those are top-line findings in the latest data analysis commissioned by the Flinn Foundation to track the state’s bioscience industry. The latest analysis by TEConomy Partners was released April 23 during an online event. The report is the final set of data that will be tracked from the current Roadmap. The Flinn Foundation has commissioned SRI International of Menlo Park, California, to draft a new plan that will launch this fall. [Read more]
News and Updates
Bioscience
Arizona Bioscience News: Arizona plans Tech Week 2026; U of A sets invention record; Istios Health merger grows data platform; Banner pursues $400M Scottsdale campus
Statewide tech conference aims to attract 25,000 participants to Arizona / Phoenix Business Journal
Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Commerce Authority — in partnership with the Arizona Venture Alliance — unveiled plans for the first Arizona Tech Week. The weeklong event in April 2026 will unite investors, startup founders and industry leaders and feature keynote panels, pitch competitions, hackathons, networking engagements and more.
Bioscience
Arizona Bioscience News: ASU medical school set for 2026; Banner opens outpatient heart surgery center; Payson earns rural health recognition
ASU’s new medical school is poised to open next year. When can students apply? / Arizona Republic
ASU’s School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering is slated to open in 2026 as part of the state’s mission to bolster its health care offerings. The medical school will be just one part of the overarching ASU Health ecosystem, which aims to combine health, technology and the humanities.
Bioscience
Arizona Bioscience News: Vitalyst Health leader Suzanne Pfister remembered; U of A studies asthma prevention; ASU explores bio-based semiconductors
Suzanne Pfister, Phoenix health foundation leader, remembered as ‘true public servant’ / Arizona Republic
Suzanne Pfister, a longtime public servant who for more than a decade led Vitalyst Health Foundation, a Phoenix-based nonprofit focused on improving Arizonans’ health, died July 18. Pfister previously held a leadership role at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and was a strong advocate of the biosciences, including serving on the Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee.
Bioscience
Arizona Bioscience News: Roadmap launch set for September; Startups raise $531M; UA sleep apnea study; Navi Nurses expands care; Tucson tech tackles maternal health
Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap launch set for September / Flinn Foundation
The new iteration of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap is almost here. After a year of research, interviews, and focus groups, SRI International has submitted a final draft that is currently under review. The new Roadmap will guide the bioscience sector through 2030. Stay tuned for more details about the Roadmap and its public launch on the Flinn Foundation Bio Blog.
For information about Bioscience, please contact:
bioscience@flinn.org or (602) 744-6831
