Arizona Bioscience News: COVID-19 leading cause of death in AZ; ASU biologist’s cancer study; NAU’s Biomechatronics Lab

December 23, 2021

By brianpowell

COVID-19 becomes Arizona’s leading cause of death / Arizona Daily Star

In the last year, since mid-December 2020, more than 14,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Arizona, making it the leading cause of death in the state ahead of both heart disease and cancer.


What counts as a COVID-19 death? Here’s how it’s done in Arizona / Arizona Republic

If someone in Arizona tests positive for COVID-19 and dies, it’s likely they’ll be counted as a COVID-19 death on the state’s data dashboard. But it’s not inevitable. Read more: ‘I’m just really angry’: Arizona COVID-19 deaths increased by 24% this year


Omicron COVID-19 variant detected at University of Arizona / Arizona Daily Star

The University of Arizona has identified at least seven cases of the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus within its Tucson campus community.


Large-scale mammal cancer study upholds decadeslong paradox / KJZZ

An Arizona State University evolutionary biologist is the co-author of a cancer study that used a database of electronic medical records covering more than 100,000 zoo animals to learn how it shows up in other species.


NAU assistant professor leads team in Biomechatronics Lab / Arizona Daily Sun

The Northern Arizona University Biomechatronics Lab is creating assistive robotic devices to restore mobility to individuals who have difficulty walking due to neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disabilities.


East Valley hospital expansion reaches construction milestone / Phoenix Business Journal

The $243 million expansion of Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert added the final beam of the new 198,000-square-foot, five-story patient tower which will increase capacity by 190 beds.


UArizona nursing program moving from downtown Phoenix to Gilbert / Phoenix Business Journal

The University of Arizona College of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing-Entry to the Profession program, which retrains students with university degrees in other fields to become nurses, is moving to Gilbert from downtown Phoenix.


Dr. Ronald Weinstein, telemedicine innovator at University of Arizona, dies at 83 / Arizona Republic

Dr. Ronald Weinstein, 83, a pioneer in the development of telemedicine and a longtime professor at the University of Arizona who most recently served as the co-founder and director of the Arizona Telemedicine Program, has died.


Protect pharmaceutical manufacturing to ensure a healthy future / Phoenix Business Journal (Op-ed)

Joan Koerber-Walker, president & CEO of the Arizona Bioindustry Association, and Danny Seiden, president & CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, write that pharmaceutical manufacturers are absolutely essential toward ensuring a healthy future for all Arizonans.


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