Flinn to host April 19 bioscience progress update

April 4, 2023

By brianpowell

The Flinn Foundation will host an online event from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19 to provide its annual update on the progress of Arizona’s bioscience sector.

Gov. Katie Hobbs will offer remarks on the role of the biosciences in her vision for health outcomes and economic growth in Arizona.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, and Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega will discuss the impact of the biosciences on their cities and the capacity of municipalities to drive progress.

In addition, David Spetzler, Ph.D., president of Caris Life Sciences, will provide an update on his company, which made a major investment in Arizona last year when it opened a $45 million liquid biopsy lab in Phoenix.  

Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, which is entering its third decade as the state’s long-term strategic plan, has guided the growth and progress of the biosciences since 2002. The Roadmap was updated in 2014 with the goal of Arizona becoming globally competitive and a national leader in select areas of the biosciences by 2025. 

Since 2003, the Flinn Foundation has held annual events to report on the growth of Arizona’s bioscience sector.

The latest performance analysis commissioned by the Flinn Foundation and presented by TEConomy Partners in April 2022 showed record highs in bioscience jobs, wages, venture capital, National Institutes of Health research funding, and university research and development. The next data report is scheduled to be released in April 2024.