Arizona Bioscience News: Study ranks Phoenix tops in life sciences jobs growth; UArizona among top research universities; Omicron variant dominant

January 6, 2022

By Matt Ellsworth

Study: Phoenix tops nation for life sciences jobs growth / Phoenix Business Journal

The Phoenix metro area topped the nation for growth in life sciences employment between 2019 and 2020, according to a new CBRE Group Inc. study, growing by about 8.5% in jobs including research, biotechnology, and therapeutics.


UArizona ranks among nation’s top public research universities / AZ Big Media

The University of Arizona once again is among the nation’s top public research universities with $761 million in total research activity in fiscal year 2020, according to the National Science Foundation, including being placed No. 21 in the biological and biomedical sciences research category.


‘Fastest rate of rise we’ve seen’: Omicron now dominant in Arizona / KJZZ 

Less than a month after it first appeared in Arizona, the omicron variant of COVID-19 is now driving as many as 90% of recent infections, according to Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute. Read more: ‘Not a good way to start out 2022’: As omicron spreads, testing demand rises in Arizona


COVID-19 on track to be leading cause of death in Arizona in 2021 / Cronkite News

COVID-19 claimed almost 15,800 lives in Arizona in 2021, making it the expected leading cause of death in the state last year.


Behind the deal: Mayo Clinic, ASU to lead development of biotechnology corridor in north Phoenix / Phoenix Business Journal

Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University officials have been talking about building a biotechnology corridor in north Phoenix since at least 2013, and now the Discovery Oasis project is closer to fruition.


Abrazo Health to break ground on Buckeye’s first hospital in 2022 near I-10 and Loop 303 / Arizona Republic

Abrazo Health has acquired 27 acres to build a new medical campus in Buckeye off Interstate 10 that will include the city’s first hospital as well as medical offices and ambulatory services.


Year in Review: These 10 Valley startups had the biggest funding hauls of 2021 / Phoenix Business Journal (AZ Inno)

Bioscience startups OncoMyx ​​Therapeutics, an Arizona State University spinout working to treat cancer, and eVisit, a Mesa-based virtual health care platform, in 2021 raised $50 million and $45 million in series B funding, respectively.


Upcoming Events

January 10-19: Biotech Showcase

January 18: AZBio PEERS: The Building Blocks of your Company—Crucial Start-Up Considerations


Sign up to receive Arizona Bioscience News weekly

Search the Arizona BioMap