Bioscience
Building Arizona as a global center for research and commercialization in the biosciences.
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Bioscience in Arizona
The Flinn Foundation supports the biosciences in Arizona through research and entrepreneurship grants as well as stewardship of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, guiding the growth and development of the state’s bioscience sector. A third iteration of the Roadmap will be released in fall 2025.
The Roadmap’s tagline, “Advancing the Biosciences and Improving Health Outcomes” recognizes the broad spectrum of the biosciences, including research, academia, and product commercialization, as well as the central role of health care within the bioscience sector.
The biosciences improve our world by developing treatments for health afflictions with safer and more affordable medicines, creating diagnostics that gauge and prevent illness, and strengthening our food supply. In addition, the biosciences strengthen and diversify our economy by creating cutting-edge companies and high-paying jobs.
Flinn invests in new ASU medical engineering division
A partnership between the Flinn Foundation, Arizona State University, and Mayo Clinic will help bioengineers work hand-in-hand with clinicians, patients, and health systems to solve real-world clinical problems.
The Flinn Foundation’s $3.3 million, five-year grant that began in early 2024 will help ASU develop its Division for Medical Engineering, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic. Part of the initiative is a master’s degree program that’s the first of its kind in the state: the Master of Science in Innovations in Medical and Patient Care Technologies, or IMPACT MS. Applications are being accepted through Friday, June 13. [Read more]
Arizona biosciences set record highs in research funding, show increasing competitiveness
Arizona continues to outpace the nation in several key bioscience industry and innovation ecosystem metrics, including gains in jobs and academic R&D expenditures. Still, challenges remain in the areas of commercialization and venture capital deal activity.
Those are top-line findings in the latest data analysis commissioned by the Flinn Foundation to track the state’s bioscience industry. The latest analysis by TEConomy Partners was released April 23 during an online event. The report is the final set of data that will be tracked from the current Roadmap. The Flinn Foundation has commissioned SRI International of Menlo Park, California, to draft a new plan that will launch this fall. [Read more]
Two Arizona bio startups earn $100K through Flinn entrepreneurship program
Arizona bioscience companies Anuncia Medical and Macula Vision Systems have been selected from a competitive field of startups to receive funding support through the 2025 Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program.
The companies receive $100,000 in non-dilutive funding support through the Arizona Bioindustry Association, the Foundation’s nonprofit partner. The 2025 program’s 10 participants — including eight companies not selected for funding — were announced March 6 at the Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference at the Creighton University Health Sciences Campus in Phoenix.
Now in its 12th cohort, the entrepreneurship program was established to support Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap goal of creating a thriving hub for bioscience entrepreneurs and startups across the state. [Read more]
Flinn conference brings together Arizona’s bioscience ecosystem
The March 6 Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference, “Managing Growth and VC Capital As You Scale,” brought together bioscience founders, investors, ecosystem partners, and service providers at the Creighton University Health Sciences Campus in Phoenix for a day of learning and networking.
Attendees at the sold-out event learned about who is funding the biosciences, talked with venture capitalists and local CEOs, and heard from keynote speaker Michael Gorton, founder of Teladoc. [Learn more]
A maternal health scare inspires bio entrepreneur Courtney Williams
Courtney Williams, CEO of Tucson-based Emagine Solutions Technology, co-founded the company to improve maternal health outcomes.
As a mother diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia just days after giving birth to her first child—and seeing family members suffer their own maternal health crises—Williams has a personal motivation as well. After living through her health scare, Williams decided to create The Journey app for pregnant women to track vitals in real time and receive immediate feedback if numbers are out of range.
Emagine Solutions Technology was also a 2019 participant in the Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program. [Read more]
News and Updates
Bioscience
Arizona Bioscience News: Drive Health AI nursing assistant; Flagstaff Medical Center ER renovation; CARVYKTI multiple myeloma treatment; Tucson hospital debuts life-saving tech
Google-backed Gilbert startup’s AI nursing assistant to roll out in health systems nationwide / Phoenix Business Journal (AZ Inno)
Drive Health, a Gilbert-based startup with backing from Google, has developed an AI-powered nursing assistant to address a critical shortage of medical professionals. The plan is to roll out into 10 health care systems nationwide by the end of the year.
Bioscience
Bringing breakthroughs to life: Flinn invests in new ASU medical engineering division
By Nicole HillFlinn Foundation Imagine a more efficient pacemaker battery, or a tool to quicken surgery time, or a wearable to track your heart as you begin a new workout. Innovations like these are developed by bioengineers every day. Bioengineering bridges medicine and technology to develop practical solutions that solve pressing challenges and improve human […]
Bioscience
Arizona Bioscience News: Linda Hunt remembered; ASU to launch MLSBE program; Tucson cochlear implant trial; Valleywise psych unit opens
AZ Venture Capital ramps up investments in Arizona startups / Phoenix Business Journal
AZ Venture Capital—formerly known as Arizona Venture Development Corp. —has fully committed its first tranche of $29 million and deployed about 30% of its second tranche of funding in its effort to grow Arizona startups.
Bioscience
Arizona Bioscience News: AZ Venture Capital funds startups; University of Jamestown master’s program; HonorHealth melanoma trial; U of A firefighter PFAS study
AZ Venture Capital ramps up investments in Arizona startups / Phoenix Business Journal
AZ Venture Capital—formerly known as Arizona Venture Development Corp. —has fully committed its first tranche of $29 million and deployed about 30% of its second tranche of funding in its effort to grow Arizona startups.
For information about Bioscience, please contact:
bioscience@flinn.org or (602) 744-6831
