Arizona Bioscience News: COVID-19 in Arizona; Billions invested in Phoenix bio, health care; UArizona, ASU move up in rankings

September 17, 2020

By Matt Ellsworth

The Arizona COVID-19 Genomics Union, formed in April with representatives from Translational Genomics Research Institute and the state’s three public universities, revealed that Arizona’s first COVID-19 case in January was successfully contained and the strain that led to community transmission entered in mid-February. The novel coronavirus is mutating slowly, Arizona researchers say, as Arizona State University is working on a home-based COVID-19 saliva test that could deliver results in 10 minutes, while HonorHealth Research Institute is starting a clinical trial to test the drug ruxolitinib.


Arizona COVID-19 Genomics Union shares early pandemic findings / Arizona Daily Sun


Arizona team: COVID-19 did not spread in state until mid-February / KJZZ


Novel coronavirus is mutating slowly, but large mutations are possible, Arizona researchers find / Arizona Republic


ASU researchers developing coronavirus test that could get results in 10 minutes / Cronkite News


How one strain of COVID-19 has a role in 90% of Arizona infections / 12 News


HonorHealth enters Phase 3 of COVID-19 experimental drug testing / ABC 15


New research shows COVID-19 link to heart damage / AZ Big Media


NAU student discusses her experiences as a COVID-19 contact tracer / KNAU


UArizona develops app to assist stress, anxiety from social isolation / KVOA


Phoenix invests big in health care and biosciences, hoping to boost economy and add jobs / Arizona Republic

Companies are investing billions in Phoenix’s bioscience and health care industries, and an estimated 7,000 new jobs and 4.4 million square feet of new building expansions are expected over a two-year span.


‘Celebrating Life & Science’ showcases Arizona’s groundbreaking bioscience sector / AZ Big Media

The one-hour program airing during Arizona Bioscience Week highlights how the state’s life science community is working together to make life better before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.


See where ASU, UArizona rank in 2021 U.S. News annual university review / Phoenix Business Journal

The University of Arizona and Arizona State University both moved up in the annual U.S. News & World Report’s Best College rankings and ASU was named the most innovative university in the nation for the sixth year in a row.


UA startups see record-breaking year / Tucson Local Media

Tech Launch Arizona, which is responsible for commercializing many of the University of Arizona’s inventions and innovations, set a record by helping 19 startups launch during fiscal year 2020.


Banner Health opens first of three Valley rehab hospitals in joint venture / Phoenix Business Journal

A joint venture between Phoenix-based Banner Health and a national physical therapy giant has opened the first of three rehab hospitals in metro Phoenix.


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