Arizona Bioscience News: COVID-19 in Arizona; TGen identifies gene that could prevent Alzheimer’s; PayGround raises $4M

April 15, 2021

By Matt Ellsworth

Arizona’s COVID-19 numbers are on pace in April to continue their month-to-month decline in 2021 as new vaccine sites continue to open around the state. There is some concern how the J&J pause will impact vaccine trust. Meanwhile, the University of Arizona is urging students to get a COVID-19 vaccine and some kids younger than 16 may qualify for a vaccine by the fall.


Some Arizonans could miss out on the COVID-19 vaccine because of continued J&J pause / Arizona Republic


Valley group’s mission to build vaccine trust may be harder with J&J pause / KTAR


Arizona to open vaccine site at NAU April 19, will offer doses to residents ages 16 and up / Arizona Daily Sun


University of Arizona strongly urging students to get a COVID-19 vaccine by Friday / KJZZ


Younger kids may soon qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s why that’s important / Arizona Republic


COVID-19 pandemic affects routine pediatric vaccines / KGUN


COVID-19 cases in Arizona drop 18% in April / AZ Big Media


COVID-19 cases increase slightly at Arizona’s 3 state universities; GCU remains low / Arizona Republic


Arizona has paid Arizona State University more than $20 million for expenses running COVID-19 vaccine and test sites / Arizona Republic


TGen identifies gene that could help prevent or delay Alzheimer’s / AZ Big Media

Findings of a study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute suggest that increasing expression of a gene known as ABCC1 could not only reduce the deposition of a hard plaque in the brain that leads to Alzheimer’s disease, but might also prevent or delay the disease from developing.


Gilbert-based PayGround raises $4M; looks to simplify the world of medical bill payments / Phoenix Business Journal

PayGround, a payments platform for health care providers based in Gilbert, recently raised $4 million in new funding and plans on making big waves in the state later this year.


UA tech spinoff aims to make algae for nutraceuticals / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson-based startup AlgaeCell Inc. has licensed technology for a system developed by University of Arizona researchers that is capable of sustainably producing industrial-scale microalgae or other microorganisms used in pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, and vaccines.


ASU is among the leaders in patents granted, startups launched / AZ Big Media

Arizona State University, through SkySong Innovations, was fourth in patents granted, fourth in startup companies launched and third in inventions disclosed when compared with other universities without a medical school, according to the most recent Association of University Technology Managers survey.


Phoenix-based LiteraSeed launches partnership with Valleywise Health for underserved populations / Phoenix Business Journal

LiteraSeed, a software platform dedicated to helping underserved patients communicate with doctors while improving health literacy, has launched a partnership with Valleywise Health to pilot the platform for COVID-19 patients in its Refugee Women’s Clinic.


Banner starts two major expansions in EV / SanTan Sun News

Banner Health started construction on a new women’s tower at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, adjacent to the seven-story Banner Children’s at Desert pediatric patient tower, and on a $243 million expansion of the Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert.


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