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 grants and stewardship of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, guiding the growth and development of the state’s bioscience sector through 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.
Seeding innovation: 12 Flinn grantees to tackle clinical needs
Imagine a bioactive dressing to help diabetic wounds heal faster, or a wearable device to catch septic shock before severe symptoms emerge, or a new therapeutic that prevents addiction in patients managing chronic pain with opioids.
These are three of a dozen new diagnostics, treatments, and products that teams of Arizona scientists and clinicians will work to develop with $100,000 grants over the next 18 months under the Flinn Foundation’s Seed Grants to Promote Translational Research Program. At the end of the grant period, two of the most successful grants will be awarded follow-on grants of up to $100,000 more. Now in its eighth year, the seed-grants program focuses on projects addressing significant clinical needs. [Read more]
Flinn welcomes governor, mayors to event highlighting Arizona’s bioscience progress
The Flinn Foundation hosted its annual online event April 19 to provide an update on the progress of Arizona’s bioscience ecosystem.
The webinar featured remarks from Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a conversation between mayors Kate Gallego of Phoenix, Regina Romero of Tucson, and David Ortega of Scottsdale, and a presentation by David Spetzler, Ph.D., president of Caris Life Sciences. The speakers highlighted bioscience successes in Arizona and their visions on how to continue the growth of the sector, develop talent, increase physician residency slots, support STEM, and continue their collaboration. [Read more]
Dr. David Gullen to hand over Flinn Foundation board chair after more than two decades of service
Dr. David Gullen, the longest-serving member of the Flinn Foundation board of directors, is stepping down as chair after 21 years of leading the philanthropic grantmaking organization. He will remain a board member through March 2024 before retiring.
Dr. Eric Reiman, who joined the Flinn board in 1999 and has served as secretary since 2008, has been elected as its new chair. Reiman, a psychiatrist and brain-imaging researcher by background, is nationally recognized for his contributions to the study, unusually early detection, and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. [Read more]
GME formulas and funding continue to hold Arizona back
Arizona medical leaders are in a seemingly endless struggle to expand residency and fellowship positions at hospitals and health centers around the state.
A vote in Congress more than a quarter century ago continues to financially haunt Arizona with each passing year and makes it nearly impossible for the fast-growing state to catch up and end its physician shortage—one of the worst in the nation. But over the last several years there have been some wins, writes Brian Powell of the Flinn Foundation. [Read more]
On the rise in 2023: Six Arizona bioscience startups
The six Arizona bioscience startups competitively selected to represent the 2023 Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program are Delta Development Team of Tucson, EMR Data Cloud of Scottsdale, Reference Medicine of Phoenix, Televeda of Phoenix, The Patient Company of Scottsdale, and TheraCea Pharma of Tucson.
Over the next year, the program participants will receive $30,000 in funding support, administered by the Arizona Bioindustry Association, a personalized learning plan, and invitations to exclusive gatherings of Arizona bioscience and policy leaders as well as convenings with fellow entrepreneurs. [Read more]
News and Updates
Bioscience
Seeding innovation: 12 Flinn Foundation grantees to tackle clinical needs
Imagine a bioactive dressing to help diabetic wounds heal faster, or a wearable device to catch septic shock before severe symptoms emerge, or a new therapeutic that prevents addiction in patients managing chronic pain with opioids. These are three of a dozen new diagnostics, treatments, and products that teams of Arizona scientists and clinicians will […]
Bioscience
Arizona Bioscience News: Flinn, Xcellerant Ventures partnership; Dementia app; TGen teaches kids science
Flinn Foundation to back Scottsdale VC fund in commitment to bioscience startups / Phoenix Business Journal (AZ Inno) The Flinn Foundation is entering the venture capital world, as a limited partner with Scottsdale-based Xcellerant Ventures, to advance its mission of supporting bioscience and health care-focused startups. Read more: VC partners with Flinn Foundation to fuel […]
Bioscience
Arizona Bioscience News: Bio startups; Veterinary telemedicine; $60M HonorHealth project
Meet the Arizona startup finalists for 2023 AZ Inno Fire Awards / Phoenix Business Journal (AZ Inno) The 2023 Fire Awards will honor startups and founders in four award categories including Biotech/Health Care. The five firms in the biotech category are Aesthetics Biomedical Inc. of Phoenix, Delta Development Team of Tucson, EvolvedMD of Scottsdale, Tempe’s […]
Bioscience
Arizona Bioscience News: UA researches sustainable rubber; HonorHealth robotic surgery; COVID-19 emergency ends
$70 million invested in UA research project to create a new sustainable rubber / KVOA Researchers from the University of Arizona, in partnership with Bridgestone Americas Inc., will lead a $70 million project to grow and process guayule, a desert shrub, with hopes of creating a new variety of natural rubber. Grand Canyon University partners […]
For information about Bioscience, please contact:
bioscience@flinn.org or (602) 744-6831
Bradley W. Halvorsen
Executive Vice President
Mary O’Reilly, Ph.D.
Vice President, Bioscience Research Programs
Wiley Larsen
Program Manager, Translational Bioscience and Entrepreneurship
Julie Anderson
Grants Coordinator