Biozona Weekly: Banner MD Anderson tissue bank; Flagstaff bioscience; Guayule-rubber operation

September 26, 2014

By hammersmith

Banner MD Anderson building tissue bank
9/26/14 | Phoenix Business Journal | Angela Gonzales

Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert has started a tissue bank to examine the physiological and genetic properties of cancer.

TGen helps provide critical tools for child-cancer research
9/25/14 | Arizona Republic | Translational Genomics Research Institute (Submitted)

Translational Genomics Research Institute is working with private companies to help install state-of-the-art computing and programming specialized for human genome investigations at the National Cancer Institute, a new system that will enable precision therapy trials for children and adults with lethal cancers.

Are ‘senior moments’ a warning sign for Alzheimer’s?

9/24/14 | CBS News | Jessica Firger

Eric Reiman, executive director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix, tells CBS News that a new study, which he was not personally involved with, supports the idea that persons with a subjective report of memory decline have more amyloid pathology and greater rates of progression to the clinical stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

ASU acquires land, plans to move near Mayo Clinic
9/24/14 | State Press | Justin Toscano

A recently re-designated piece of land will allow Arizona State University to build educational and research facilities near Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and further expand its partnership with the hospital, which since 2003 has included a joint nursing education program, research projects, joint faculty appointments, and dual degree programs.
 
Local scientists the stars of science festival
9/24/14 | Arizona Daily Sun | Editorial

Science and discovery take center stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science, which in its 25th year has become one of the city’s signature events featuring 70 free activities for young and old, scientist and amateur.

Mayor: Gilbert must grow STEM skills to meet job demand
9/24/14 | Arizona Republic | John Lewis (Op-ed)

Gilbert has evolved into Arizona’s fifth-largest municipality whose economy runs on innovation, technology and a skilled workforce with a growing portfolio of companies involved in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.

Bridgestone subsidiary debuts guayule-rubber operation in Mesa

9/23/14 | Arizona Republic | Ryan Randazzo

Bridgestone Americas Inc., a subsidiary of the Japanese tire giant, opened a 10-acre manufacturing facility in Mesa that will turn guayule, a woody shrub grown in Eloy, into rubber for tires and other products.

Health: Bioness device helps people walk
9/22/14 | azfamily.com | Jay Crandall

A medical device called the Bioness is making the difference in the recovery of a young stroke victim who is learning to walk again.

GCU offers new programs, smaller school feel
9/22/14 | azfamily.com | Chloe Nordquist

Grand Canyon University is adding programs in STEM areas to increase the numbers of graduates in Arizona with science, technology, engineering and math degrees, which the university president says is needed to improve the state’s economy.

Adventures in Flagstaff bioscience

9/21/14 | Arizona Daily Sun | Emery Cowan

It takes only one look at the frantic and chaotic response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to see the value of the work going on in Paul Keim’s lab at Northern Arizona University, which uses complex DNA mapping technology to trace the evolution and ecology of pathogens throughout history and within different environments.

Verde Valley benefits from rural telemedicine push
9/20/14 | Verde Independent | Yvonne Gonzalez

Private vendors are joining the movement to bring telemedicine to rural communities in the Verde Valley and the rest of the state.