A research project at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff is studying brain metabolism to learn about the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

The effort is led by Travis Gibbons, an assistant professor in NAU’s Department of Biological Sciences, and funded by a grant from the Arizona Alzheimer’s Foundation. It is looking at how brain metabolism uses glucose.

“The brain is like a muscle,” Gibbons said in a Sept. 24, 2025, release from NAU on the study. “It needs fuel to do work, and its gasoline is blood glucose. A healthy brain is greedy; it burns through glucose fast. But brain metabolism is slower when you have Alzheimer’s. It can be viewed as a canary in the coal mine in the development of the disease.”

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Bio, life science and healthtech founders and your teams: Come join the conversation and build your network during an exciting day with industry leaders and funders at the Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference. This year's theme: "What Investors Want; What Entrepreneurs Need." It's on Thursday, March 5, at the Creighton University Health Sciences Campus - Phoenix.

Click here for the full agenda, including speakers.

The Arizona Cardinals and the state’s ascension in the biosciences over the past two decades are forever linked.

Learn how in this article written by the Flinn Foundation's Brian Powell that first appeared in the Winter 2025 edition of Arizona Physician magazine, a publication of the Maricopa County Medical Society.

The story shares bioscience success stories over the past two decades, the research of a Barrow Neurological Institute resident, as well as details of the new Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap and its vision for Arizona to become a nationally recognized, rising bioscience leader by 2030.

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Arizona State University reports that the university has passed $1 billion in annual research funding for the first time, which is leading to advances in dementia care, cancer detection, AI, and more.

The $1.003 billion amount for fiscal year 2024, an eightfold increase in expenditures since 2002, ranks ASU 37th overall and No. 21 among public universities.

ASU also ranked No. 5 among institutions without a medical school. The university's John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering in downtown Phoenix will welcome its first class later this year.

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The Arizona Board of Regents and the state’s public universities – Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona – are partnering with the Arizona Commerce Authority to advance technology innovations that have both commercial applications and meet national defense priorities. It’s the kind of thing that boosts collaboration across tech sectors and accelerates research into impact – two goals of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap.

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When it comes to the nation’s most favorable ecosystems for startups, Arizona is proving to be a robust hot spot. A report by real estate platform CommercialCafe found Phoenix to be the No. 1 large city for nurturing startups while Tucson and Mesa are Nos. 4 and 5 in the ranking for smaller cities, respectively. The report looked at which places are most hospitable for early-stage companies navigating an era of tightening capital since the generous days of 2021. In times like these, CommercialCafe said, “startups must now rely more heavily on fundamental business health and the strength of their local ecosystems.”

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Strengthening career pathways is a goal in the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap. That’s one reason why the Flinn Foundation funds the Summer Research Internship at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. The program is seeking applications from pre-med undergraduate students for its 2026 cohort. The deadline to apply is Sunday, Jan. 18.

During the 10-week program starting in June, interns are mentored by a biomedical scientist, develop a hypothesis, and conduct guided research. Interns are paid a stipend of $4,000 during the program. Each intern is expected to write a brief scientific paper about their summer research and present their findings at a college-wide symposium at the end of the program.

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The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and Onvida Health of Yuma announced a new partnership to launch Arizona’s first rural regional medical school branch. The partnership will address the severe physician shortage facing the rural regions of the state.

Next year, the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix will introduce a three-year Primary Care Accelerated Pathway leading to an M.D. degree, with clinical training based entirely at Onvida Health in Yuma. During the first three years of this partnership, up to 45 qualified students – 15 per year – from a competitive applicant pool who are committed to careers in primary care will be admitted to the program and awarded full tuition scholarships funded by Onvida Health.

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The Phoenix Bioscience Core in downtown Phoenix will host the third annual State of the PBC event on Thursday, Dec. 18, to highlight Arizona’s bioscience and health innovation community. The PBC includes TGen, all three state universities including the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix and the future ASU Health headquarters, and Wexford’s 850 PBC building.

The event is designed for attendees to gain insights on transformative research and new bioscience initiatives, meet academia, industry, government, and venture capital leaders, discover new startups, and be part of Arizona’s bioscience story.

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Flinn Foundation president and CEO Tammy McLeod, Ph.D., was named one of Arizona’s Power 50 by the Arizona Capitol Times in its inaugural list of the state’s most important people shaping the landscape of Arizona.

The Capitol Times cites McLeod’s role in leading Flinn’s update this year of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, which “will set the course for the billion-dollar industry.”

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Exact Sciences, which has a significant Arizona presence, is being purchased by Abbott in a deal valued at up to $23 billion. Founded in 1995, Exact Science is a Wisconsin-based company most known for its colon cancer screening test, Cologuard, and an early-stage breast cancer test, Oncotype. In Phoenix, its team is based in the TGen, or Translational Genomics Research Institute’s, downtown building in the Phoenix Bioscience Core, The Arizona Republic reported this fall.

The company backed out of a planned expansion near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport earlier this year. The expansion made headlines in the Valley in October 2023 after the Phoenix City Council approved a development agreement with $6.6 million in incentives to help Exact Sciences build a 250,000-square-foot cancer detection facility with labs, office space, and manufacturing and warehouse areas. The company said the decision to pull out of the project “was based purely on business and operational considerations.”

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Researchers from the University received $917,000 to investigate novel immune-based approaches to prevent the most common form of cancer in humans: keratinocytic skin cancers. The goal? To develop safe and effective topical treatments that can activate the body’s own immune defenses to prevent cancer before it starts.

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Telling Arizona’s bioscience story is one of five goals in Arizona’s new Bioscience Roadmap. Indidvidual narratives like Sampath Rangasamy’s, along with a unified industry narrative, can boost the state’s reputation as a bioscience hub and showcase successes. That, in turn, helps advance policy and attract workforce talent. The Roadmap outlines ways the state can use 20+ years of momentum to become a nationally recognized bioscience leader.

TGen researcher Rangasamy’s personal story led him to improving diabetes treatments. 

Details on all five of the Roadmap’s goals are in the Executive Report, now available for download. 

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Annual Governor’s Innovation Awards recognize Arizona’s top tech leaders and companies. The Flinn Foundation receives Judges Award, honoring the legacy of founders Dr. Robert and Mrs. Irene Flinn:

“As the judges discussed who has made a difference not only in the last year, but for decades, one organization stood out due to the overwhelming positive impact it has had on the quality of life in the state. They are not really about tech. They are about enabling people, systems, and technology to improve the lives of all our citizens.”

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Arizona has joined 10 regions across the U.S. as part of a new network exploring how the arts can be used to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities.  

The Community Neuroarts Coalitions Network is a key building block of the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative, which is helmed by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’s International Arts + Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics and the Aspen Institute’s Health, Medicine & Society Program. 

Neuroarts is an emerging field that explores how arts and aesthetic experiences change the brain, body, and behavior and how this knowledge can be applied as health care. Think music helping people with memory loss, dance improving movement for those with Parkinson’s disease, and art supporting children’s social and emotional development.

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The Flinn Foundation website hosts the Arizona BioMap — a searchable and interactive guide to more than 1,200 companies and organizations powering innovations across the state.

The BioMap offers search by organization or city; filtering by subsector; plus company descriptions and addresses; and the option to download an Excel file of all organizations.

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A recording is available of the September event that launched the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, featuring presentations from Flinn Foundation President and CEO Tammy McLeod, Ph.D.; Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee chair Heather Carter, Ed.D.; and Christiana McFarland, Ph.D., and Dylan Solden of SRI International; plus an esteemed panel discussion featuring Jennifer Barton, Ph.D., from University of Arizona; Jerry Cabrera of Elevate Southwest; Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego; Lara Ferry, Ph.D., of Arizona State University; and Richard Gray, M.D., of Mayo Clinic Arizona.

This next iteration of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap builds on Arizona’s skilled talent base, world-class research, and entrepreneurial spirit to improve the economy as well as Arizonans’ health and quality of life. The report, which includes five goals for the state, analyzes Arizona’s strengths and challenges, acknowledging the uncertainty around federal funding for bioscience research and how that may impact the state going forward.

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Arizona Republic reporter Stephanie Innes explores the past two decades of bioscience growth in Arizona—from the launch of TGen in downtown Phoenix and its spinout companies to the recent naming of the new Arizona State University John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering—as well as the headwinds and challenges the state faces on its goal to becoming a national leader.

“Still, the recently released 2025-30 Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, as well as several academic, community and local government leaders, indicate that Arizona’s 2002 investment in TGen has lived up to both the hype and the promise, though there’s general agreement that public awareness could be better,” Innes wrote.

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John W. Murphy, the Flinn Foundation’s first employee who transformed philanthropy in Arizona as its president and CEO, died Oct. 22. He was 88.

While the Flinn Foundation is sadly marking his passing, we’re remembering his visionary leadership including his efforts to launch Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap and help recruit the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) to Arizona, create the Critical Path Institute (C-Path) in Tucson, and establish the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix as part of what today is known as Phoenix Bioscience Core.

“It was John’s ability to steward the intentions of Dr. and Mrs. Flinn that ensured that their legacy will benefit the people and communities of our state well into the future,” current Flinn Foundation President and CEO Tammy McLeod said.

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Mary O’Reilly, vice president, bioscience research programs at the Flinn Foundation, joined The Show on KJZZ to talk about the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap released last month, its five goals, the state’s strengths, and how she expects Arizona’s bioscience sector to advance into the future.

O’Reilly also talked about the tie between the biosciences and semiconductors.

“And one of the real strengths actually — and a really nice thing that’s beginning to come to the fore — is the semiconductor industry and this intersection of medical devices and semiconductors.”

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The new Arizona State University medical school has received a nine-figure gift from Dr. John Shufeldt and received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education that will enable the school to begin recruiting its first class of students for the fall 2026 semester, according to an Oct. 22 ASU announcement.

The John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering will eventually be located at Phoenix Bioscience Core in downtown Phoenix at the new ASU Health headquarters. Classes will begin next year at the Mercado in downtown Phoenix.

Shufeldt’s donation also will support the creation of an endowed professorship for a professor of entrepreneurship in medicine, as well as a health-tech venture philanthropy fund that will be operated by the ASU Foundation. The university will identify entrepreneurs funded through the fund, who will be called Xcellerant Ventures Founders, according to the ASU announcement.

Shufeldt holds an MD, JD and MBA, an emergency medicine physician, and in 1993 founded NextCare, an urgent care company.  

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The 2025 AZBio Awards honored bioscience researchers, businesses, public servants, organizations, and educators for their work in advancing the Arizona biosciences.

Gov. Katie Hobbs led off the Oct. 15 event in Phoenix with a speech and presentation of the first award. 

The 2025 AZBio Awards winners are:

• AZBio Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Eric Reiman, Banner Alzheimer’s Institutes, Flinn Foundation Board of Directors
• Arizona Bioscience Company of the Year: Roche Tissue Diagnostics
• Jon W. McGarity Arizona Bioscience Leader of the Year: David Dexter, Sonora Quest Laboratories
• AZBio Public Service Award: Fred DuVal, Arizona Board of Regents
• Arizona Bioscience Researcher of the Year: Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz, Ph.D., University of Arizona
• Michael A. Cusanovich Bioscience Educator of the Year: Kim Rodgers, Mountain Ridge High School
• AZBio Fast Lane Award Honorees: Life365, LifeSpan Digital Health, Reference Medicine

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Arizona’s bioscience journey reflects both rapid growth and resilience in uncertain times. The next five years will be pivotal as Arizona seeks to translate momentum into national leadership while navigating funding volatility, global competition, and talent retention — turning progress into lasting, transformative impact. The executive summary of the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap answers the questions: “What is bioscience?” “What progress has been made?” and “Where do we go from here?”

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The 56-page AZBio special supplement can be found in the September/October edition of AzBusiness magazine and online. 

The annual publication, which is given to all attendees of the Oct. 15 AZBio Awards, includes features about the award winners, Arizona Bioscience Week, and the impact Arizona’s bioscience ecosystem is having on patient care and the state’s economy.

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Phoenix Bioscience Core has announced the bioscience startups that make up the second cohort of its XLR8 PBC program. 

• AI.VALI (Toronto): Med‑tech SaaS delivering AI‑driven, real‑time endoscopy image analysis and reporting to streamline clinical workflows. 
• Hexoskin (Montréal): Smart wearable garments that continuously monitor ECG, respiratory, activity, and sleep via clinically validated sensor‑embedded shirts.
• Paxauris (Phoenix): Inflatable, ergonomic hearing protection (earplugs and hearables) designed for comfort and performance in diverse, high‑noise environments. 
• ReSuture (Phoenix): Advanced, AI‑enhanced vascular models and online platforms to elevate surgical training and reduce patient and system risk. 
• NeuroCatch (British Columbia): A portable EEG‑based platform to rapidly and objectively assess cognitive brain function via “brain vital signs” at the point‑of‑care. 

The selected companies represent cutting-edge advancements in medical technology, addressing critical gaps in AI, wearable garments, hearing protection, and brain functions, and are set to amplify the already thriving Phoenix ecosystem, according to a Phoenix Bioscience Core release. The program has been designed to support founders/CEOs with access to top industry leaders, mentorship, and strategic resources.

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Mary O’Reilly, Flinn Foundation vice president, bioscience research programs, talks with Arizona Horizon host Ted Simons about the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, the advances of Arizona universities, health systems, and companies, the Roadmap’s new goals and strategies, and how far the state has come since its strong commitment to the sector began more than 20 years ago. 

O’Reilly, who joined the foundation in 2018, oversees Flinn’s bioscience programming and grantmaking, including the Translational Seed Grants Program and Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program.

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From the Arizona Capitol Times:

More than two decades after Arizona leaders charted a course for the state’s budding bioscience industry, growth has come by way of four more medical schools, increased funding for research and entrepreneurship, job growth, the creation of an industry association and nationwide momentum, according to the Arizona Capitol Times.

“When you look at the biosciences, you see steadiness and resilience. This is something I know that lawmakers look at at the Capitol, our city elected official teams look at, and this is something that we need to celebrate,” said Heather Carter, chair of the statewide Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee.

Carter attributed the growth over the past 20 or so years to not only the Roadmap but also to the support of elected officials and voters.

“At important moments, many local and state leaders have really rolled up their sleeves and have devoted precious resources to strengthen both the education and the research in health care and the bio economy. And then voters have gone to the polls and have done the same,” Carter said. 

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The Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff reports on the first of three community events the Flinn Foundation held in September to launch the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, which will guide the sector through 2030.

The event on the Northern Arizona University campus featured Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett, Northern Arizona Healthcare COO Bo Cofield, NAU Vice President for Research Jason Wilder, and President and CEO of Development Engineering Sciences Robert Kellar.

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Arizona Bioscience Week 2025 will once again bring the state’s bioscience community together through a mix of events and gatherings that will celebrate the growing ecosystem and honor the leaders helping Arizona fulfill the goals of the new Bioscience Roadmap.

Oct. 13-17: Exploring Innovation in Biosciences and Healthcare (A daily video resource for teachers)
Oct. 13: Leading Women: Biotech & Beyond
Oct. 14: Arizona Drug Discovery and Development Summit
Oct 15: ASU National Diagnostics Summit 2025
Oct. 15: 21st Annual AZBio Awards
Oct. 16: AZAdvances Health Innovation Summit
Oct. 17: Voice of the Patient
Oct. 17: Runway for Research
Oct. 17: The Mayor’s International 

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For the third straight day, bioscience, health, and community leaders — whose vision and innovation are leading Arizona to new heights in the biosciences — gathered to celebrate the launch of the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap.

The final event was held at the Flinn Foundation in Phoenix and included an online audience, following programs in Flagstaff and Tucson earlier in the week on the campuses of Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona. 

We all look forward to helping make Arizona a nationally recognized bioscience leader over the next five years. 

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The Flinn Foundation and its partners hosted events at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and University of Arizona in Tucson on Sept. 9 and 10 to share the vision of the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap. In addition to presentations from SRI International, the third-party consultants who developed the Roadmap, panelists featuring bioscience researchers and entrepreneurs, elected officials, and executives, shared their stories and excitement about the future of the biosciences in Arizona. 

An event in Phoenix on Sept. 11 will conclude the week-long launch of the new Roadmap, which provides a path for Arizona to become a nationally recognized bioscience leader by 2030.

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A new blueprint for Arizona’s emerging bioscience ecosystem lays out a plan for the state to capitalize on more than two decades of momentum and become a nationally recognized leader.

The next iteration of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap—the long-term strategic plan to accelerate the progress of the state through 2030—builds on Arizona’s skilled talent base, world-class research, and entrepreneurial spirit to improve the economy as well as Arizonans’ health and quality of life.

A public online event at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 will include a look at the Roadmap’s history and progress since its 2002 launch; an introduction to the new Roadmap by SRI International; and a panel discussion with Arizona bioscience leaders.

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The application for the 11th cohort of the Flinn Foundation Translational Seed Grants Program is now open. Arizona-based researchers can apply through Oct. 31 to compete for a $100,000 grant plus an opportunity for follow-on funding.

The program seeks teams of Arizona scientists and clinicians pursuing innovative solutions to well-defined clinical needs. The 10 selected participants receive a package that includes: 

• A $100,000 grant over 18 months;
• Quarterly cohort workshops to enhance skills in commercialization; 
• The opportunity to compete for an additional $100,000 in follow-on funding; 
• Networking and connections with research and industry experts; and 
• Membership during the grant period on Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, a statewide consortium of leaders driving our state’s bioscience ecosystem. 

Since 2013, the Flinn Foundation has awarded 83 seed grants totaling about $9.5 million. 

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The Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference will return on March 5, 2026 to the Creighton University Health Sciences Campus at Park Central in Phoenix.

The public is invited to join bioscience founders, investors, ecosystem partners, and service providers for a full day of learning and networking. Registration is now available.

Stay tuned for agenda details in the months ahead.

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The new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap—the long-term strategic plan to accelerate the progress of the state through 2030—will be unveiled during a public online event at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11. This is an opportunity to learn what’s ahead for Arizona as it becomes a nationally recognized rising bioscience leader.

The program will include:

• A look at the Roadmap’s history and progress since its 2002 launch by the Flinn Foundation;
• An introduction to the new Roadmap by SRI International; and
• A panel discussion with Arizona bioscience leaders.

Registration is now available.  

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The Flinn Foundation Seed Grants to Promote Translational Research Program awards a combined $1 million each year to 10 Arizona research teams with the potential to turn their findings into viable products and treatments that impact patients.

The application for the next cohort will open Sept. 3. The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 31. The awardees will be announced in March 2026 at the Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference. 

To be eligible for the program, research projects must be directed by investigators from Arizona nonprofit academic- or medical-research institutions or health systems and address significant clinical needs in the areas of diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, precision medicine, and health-care delivery.

The Flinn Foundation has awarded 83 seed grants totaling about $9.5 million since 2013.

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Northern Arizona bioscience, entrepreneurship and innovation leaders will gather on July 31 to continue the conversation and momentum around the new Flagstaff Bioscience Strategic Plan.

The plan, which is aligned with the new statewide Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap to be launched by the Flinn Foundation in September, is set to transform the Flagstaff region into a premier hub for bioscience and medical device innovation by 2030 with its strong research institutions, entrepreneurial culture, and collaborative ecosystem.

The day will end with a community gathering at Moonshot for the AZBio’s Beat the Heat event. 

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The Critical Path Institute, one of the early success stories of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, is celebrating 20 years of accelerating drug development across the globe.

The Tucson-based organization was founded in 2005 by Raymond Woosley, M.D., Ph.D., with assistance from the University of Arizona, the Food and Drug Administration, Flinn Foundation, and other supporters. 

With a unique, neutral, precompetitive model that unites industry, regulators, academia, patients and patient groups, C-Path has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives to generate tangible solutions that have accelerated drug development in areas such as infectious disease, rare disease, neurology, and pediatrics, according to the organization.

Last year, C-Path hosted its inaugural Global Impact Conference. The C-Path 2025 Global Impact Conference, which marks the 20th anniversary, will be held Sept. 9-11 in Washington, D.C.

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Flinn Foundation and AZBio celebrated progress, shared ideas, and talked collaboration with Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program participants and Translational Research Program seed grantees this week in Tucson.  

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Are you curious how many medical device companies are located in Scottsdale? Or the Tucson nonprofits advancing the biosciences? It all can be found on the Arizona BioMap on the Flinn Foundation website. The BioMap is an updated searchable database of more than 1,200 companies and organizations that make up Arizona’s growing bioscience ecosystem.

Do you have a new company or organization to add, or need to make changes to your existing entry? It’s easy to do and helps keep the BioMap as accurate as possible.

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The Phoenix Business Journal reports that Arizona startups raised $531.6 million across 44 deals in the second quarter of 2025, marking an increase from $344.7 million across 40 deals in the prior year quarter. 

Three bio and life science companies were featured among the major deals: 

• $100 million in an unspecified series round by Scottsdale-based women’s health tech company Naari.ai;
• $53.3 million in a series D round by Tempe-based GT Medical Technologies;
• $34 million series B round for EvolvedMD; and 
• $13.5 million in a series A round by Scottsdale-based CND Life Sciences.

The growth of bioscience startups, including the raising of capital, helps to fulfill the goals of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap. The new Roadmap will be launched in September 2025. 

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Navi Nurses, a Phoenix-based company and past participant in the Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program, delivered 30,000 hours of care last year and is scaling its mission to bring coordinated care to even more Arizonans in medical crises.  

The founder and CEO of Navi Nurses is Jasmine Bhatti, who shares a powerful story by recounting her experience caregiving for her grandmother — and how it solidified a career in nursing.  

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Congratulations to Dr. Eric Reiman, chair of the Flinn Foundation Board of Directors, on his selection for the 2025 AZBio Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Through his work with the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative, Banner Health and more, Dr. Reiman has pioneered contributions to the early detection, prevention, and study of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Reiman and all the 2025 AZBio Awards honorees advancing the goals of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap will be celebrated at the Oct. 15 event in Phoenix.

Here’s a list of the announced winners:

AZBio Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement
Eric Reiman, M.D.

Arizona Bioscience Company of the Year
Roche Tissue Diagnostics

Jon W. McGarity Arizona Bioscience Leader of the Year
David Dexter

AZBio Public Service Award
Regent Fred DuVal

Arizona Bioscience Researcher of the Year
Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz, Ph.D.

Michael A. Cusanovich Bioscience Educator of the Year
Kim Rodgers

AZBio Fast Lane Award Honorees
Life365
LifeSpan Digital Health
Reference Medicine

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More than 1,000 attendees will gather July 10-16 in Tucson for the Association for Career Technical Education of Arizona’s summer conference. Among the many content areas is Health Science Technologies, and specifically bioscience.

Did you know more than 3,500 Arizona students were enrolled in the bioscience CTE program last year? These students will one day make up part of the growing bioscience workforce in Arizona and contribute to the success of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap. Career and technical education provides students with academic and technical skills, work-based training, and professional skills to succeed in their future careers.

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This video reflects on the 2025 Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference, where 250 investors, ecosystem partners, service providers, and Arizona-based bio, life science, medtech, and digital health founders focused on managing growth and VC capital.

The planning has started for the 2026 event. Details to be announced soon.

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Tony Dietz has spent a lot of time in places that are not healthy for your ears: swimming in the ocean off the coast of Australia, diving into pools below military jets, and performing research on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.

His work on a ship off the coast of Virginia, coupled with his childhood experiences and risk-taking Australian mindset, led him to become an entrepreneur for the first time. When he set out to create his earplug prototype, Dietz used memories of the striking silence reached just below a pool surface as inspiration for the founding of his company, Paxauris, and its  Fluid™ Earplug inflatable design.

The pre-launch of the his company’s Kickstarter campaign is underway with the full campaign scheduled to begin later this summer.

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The 10^th annual Arizona Biomedical Research Centre-Flinn Foundation Research Conference at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix featured 13 oral presentations and 87 research posters. The daylong conference also provided an engaging environment for researchers to share their ongoing work and discoveries as well as showcase the value of collaboration.

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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.

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.

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Did you know that a program for Maricopa County K-12 teachers and students showcases career opportunities in the biosciences?

Teachers get professional development, connections with industry professionals and other resources through the Exploring Pathways to Bioscience And Health Careers initiative, overseen by the Office of Maricopa County School Superintendent and supported by the Flinn Foundation.

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Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego highlighted the growth and impact of the Arizona biosciences during her annual State of the City address May 20 in downtown Phoenix.

She praised the continued expansion of Phoenix Bioscience Core with ASU Health, which includes a new medical school; the $1.9 billion planned Mayo Clinic transformation; and the first graduating class from the Midtown campus of the Creighton University School of Medicine.

She also announced a new facility for Clin-Path Associates, PLC, which provides pathology services to area hospitals, and the launch of the University of Jamestown pathologists’ assistant master’s program. 

“Investments in the biosciences are bearing fruit . . . and it’s no time to rest,” Gallego said. “Phoenix is committed to advancing medicine and improving health care outcomes for all Arizonans . . . whether you live in Phoenix, Flagstaff or the Navajo Nation.”

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The AZBio Awards is an annual celebration of the Arizona biosciences and the leaders driving the advances as educators, researchers, entrepreneurs and more.

The deadline to nominate an honoree is June 1.    

The 2025 awards event, “Celebrating Health Innovation,” will be held Oct. 15 in Phoenix during Arizona Bioscience Week.

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The deadline is Friday, May 30, to apply for a new Arizona State University graduate program specializing in innovations in medical and patient care, funded in part by the Flinn Foundation. The degree will help graduates in clinical, entrepreneurial, executive, or biomedical industry fields.

Master of Science in Innovations in Medical and Patient Care Technologies, or IMPACT MS, is offered through ASU’s School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering as part of the Mayo Clinic and ASU Alliance for Health Care. 

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Flinn Foundation President and CEO Tammy McLeod, Ph.D., during a May 1 segment on KJZZ discussed the new data commissioned by the Flinn Foundation that shows Arizona continues to outpace the nation in several key bioscience ecosystem metrics, including gains in jobs and research funding. McLeod highlighted the research emerging from Arizona’s universities, health systems, and research institutions, and the emphasis on tech transfer to commercialize this research.

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The inaugural Research Week hosted by the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix is a free event in the Phoenix Bioscience Core that will foster collaboration and highlight exciting research over one week in May. There is no cost to attend any of the multiple events in downtown Phoenix. 

Monday, May 5: 15th Annual Scholarly Project Research Symposium
Tuesday, May 6: Biomedical Research Day: Bridging Science and Health
Wednesday, May 7: 29th Annual Dr. Michael D. Grossman Academic Excellence Day
Thursday, May 8: 10th Annual Arizona Biomedical Research Centre-Flinn Foundation Research Conference featuring Flinn Foundation grantees
Friday, May 9: Research Mentoring and Education

The inaugural Research Week hosted by the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix is a free event in the Phoenix Bioscience Core that will foster collaboration and highlight exciting research over one week in May. There is no cost to attend any of the multiple events in downtown Phoenix. 

Monday, May 5: 15th Annual Scholarly Project Research Symposium
Tuesday, May 6: Biomedical Research Day: Bridging Science and Health
Wednesday, May 7: 29th Annual Dr. Michael D. Grossman Academic Excellence Day
Thursday, May 8: 10th Annual Arizona Biomedical Research Centre-Flinn Foundation Research Conference featuring Flinn Foundation grantees
Friday, May 9: Research Mentoring and Education

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Record NIH funding with a growth rate four times faster than the nation.

Record high bioscience-related R&D spending at the state universities.

Job growth outpacing the nation.

Wages well above Arizona’s private-sector average.

These are some highlights from the latest data analysis of Arizona’s bioscience ecosystem commissioned by the Flinn Foundation.

Additional information about Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, the bio industry, and its role as a significant economic driver in Arizona that is improving health outcomes is available on this website’s Progress page.

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Venture Café Phoenix will feature past participants of the Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program on Thursday, April 24 during the panel discussion, “Pearls of Wisdom: Fundraising Insights from Startup Founders.”

Anthony Dietz of Paxauris, Jim Hauert of Gila Diagnostics, and Mohammad Albanna of Humabiologics will share their real-world experiences, from securing early funding to scaling their businesses. Helen Goldstein of Procopio will serve as moderator. The event will be held at the 850 PBC building on the Phoenix Bioscience Core. 

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“The Latest in Arizona Biosciences” at noon Wednesday, April 23 will share new data with the community highlighting Arizona bioscience and hospital jobs, wages, federal grants, venture capital, university tech transfer, and other measures from the past year—continuing a practice started by the Flinn Foundation more than two decades ago.

The virtual event will also feature a look toward September (and beyond) when the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap will be unveiled. SRI International, the consulting group leading the development of the new Roadmap, will preview what lies ahead.

There is still time to register.

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Bioscience startup HemaSense of Flagstaff was one of three companies to earn a cash prize in the 2025 Venture Madness by Invest Southwest competition held earlier this month in Tempe.

HemaSense is improving patient outcomes and reducing costs of percutaneous interventions by providing health care professionals the first early alert system for bleeding complications at the access site during post-op recovery, according to its website.

HemaSense was awarded second place and $7,500 in the 16-startup pitch competition. The 16 early-stage companies were selected from 125 applicants.   

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Is 100% survival after stroke achievable? Tim Becker, a Flinn Foundation translational research seed grantee and Northern Arizona University professor, innovates in real-time as CTO of Aneuvas Technologies which develops catheter-based devices. He oversees the Bioengineering Devices Lab and hands-on research for students looking at treatment for stroke patients. Here he speaks with Mary O’Reilly, Flinn Foundation Vice President, Bioscience Research Programs. https://lnkd.in/gg8NM7jx Mary O’Reilly, PhD

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Learn about the future of medical device manufacturing in Arizona by attending “Shaping the Future of Advancing Electronics and Medical Technologies,” the 2025 Technology Workshop sponsored by MDM2 and its partners.

The event will take between April 22-24 at the ASU Health Futures Center in Phoenix, adjacent to the Mayo Clinic campus.

The Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier, or MDM2, Consortium is dedicated to empowering Greater Phoenix to become a global leader in medical device manufacturing. Members include Arizona companies, health systems, economic developers, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations including the Flinn Foundation.

This event is free for MDM2 member organizations. Registration is now available.

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Best of luck to the 16 early-stage companies, including those in the biosciences and health tech, presenting at the annual capital conference and pitch competition April 2-3.

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Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, Ph.D., University of Arizona senior vice president of research and innovation, will share information about bioscience research, commercialization, and health care opportunities and challenges during the upcoming Flinn Foundation event. 

The Zoom webinar will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23. Registration is now available.

In addition, new Arizona bioscience performance metrics will be revealed along with a presentation about the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap coming in September.

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The Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Bluesky account is another great way to stay informed during the ongoing Roadmap update.

Follow @azbioroadmap.bsky.social to see the latest news, profiles, data and more leading up to the September release of the third iteration of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap.

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Heather Carter, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice CEO and chair of the Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, will share new data from TEConomy Partners highlighting Arizona bioscience and hospital jobs, wages, federal grants, venture capital, university tech-transfer, and other measures.

There will also be a discussion about academic research opportunities and challenges during these tumultuous times and a report from SRI International about what to expect from the new Roadmap coming in September.

The Zoom webinar will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23. This will be the final data report under the current iteration of the Roadmap. Past progress reports are available at flinn.org/progress.

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University of Arizona Professor and BIO5 Institute Director Jennifer Barton is one of 162 honorees named to the National Academy of Inventors 2025 class of senior members. Barton is vice chair of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, the leadership group overseeing the state’s long-term strategic plan that has guided the growth and innovation of Arizona’s bioscience ecosystem for more than two decades.

Barton, the Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Chair of Biomedical Engineering at U of A, has eight patents including for a sub-millimeter diameter falloposcope to identify early-stage ovarian cancer, and is immediate past president of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics.

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Three Arizona companies were among those selected for two Phoenix-area multiday program cohorts for early-stage health tech and bioscience startups.

The Patient Company, a past participant in the Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program, is one of four members in the inaugural cohort of XLR8 PBC at the Phoenix Bioscience Core. The company is the maker of the SimPull lateral transfer device for patients.

The Mayo Clinic and ASU MedTech Accelerator welcomes 10 companies for its sixth cohort including WellBeings of Scottsdale and Phoenix-based The Pause. WellBeings integrates and normalizes real-time data from wearables with EMR and diagnostics tests. The Pause aims to integrate personalized artificial intelligence into menopause management. 

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The impact of multi-institutional collaborations and partnerships led the discussion among Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee members during its gathering earlier today.

These collaborations have been a strength for Arizona—between our hospitals, research institutes, universities, companies, economic development organizations, and more.  One of the most instrumental collaborations in Arizona’s bioscience growth and progress is the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium—the nation’s leading model of statewide collaboration in Alzheimer’s disease research.  

Drs. Eric Reiman and Richard Caselli, members of the Alzheimer’s consortium and Flinn Foundation Board of Directors, led a presentation followed by an engaging discussion with moderator Jennifer Barton and panelists Jani Ingram, Mark Van Dyke, Kathleen Lee, and David Spetzler about their ongoing collaborations.

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The ASU Health headquarters is coming to Phoenix Bioscience Core, the university announced.

The 200,000-square-foot facility in downtown Phoenix will be home to the new School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering—which will produce physicians who blend medicine, engineering, technology and humanities—and the School of Technology for Public Health.

HonorHealth, the primary clinical affiliate for the new medical school, will be co-located in the headquarters and colleges across Arizona State University will work with ASU Health to advance health standards.

The headquarters is expected to open in fall 2028.

Photo by: Arizona State University

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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.

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Mayo Clinic’s $1.9 billion planned investment in its Phoenix campus is amazing news for Arizona.

Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Arizona will transform patient care and create new jobs while playing a significant role in the continued growth, impact, and innovation of the state’s bioscience ecosystem.

The 1.2-million-square-foot expansion project is scheduled to be completed in 2031.

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In this feature story about Courtney Williams and her Tucson-based company, Emagine Solutions Technology, we learn what motivates her to improve maternal health through The Journey app and VistaScan.

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Join us for the Storyteller workshop at the March 6 Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference and learn how to shape a compelling first-person story to grow a company.

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Congrats to Northern Arizona University on receiving R1 research activity designation from the Carnegie Foundation, which is the highest classification for United States research institutions.

The designation reflects NAU’s efforts to produce knowledge, processes and technology that are pivotal in solving the world’s problems and preparing students to enter the constantly shifting workforce, according to a NAU press release. The criteria for R1 status are spending at least $50 million annually on research and development and awarding at least 70 research doctorates each year.

This story was one of several highlights in this week’s edition of Arizona Bioscience News. Sign up today!

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SRI International has met with Flinn Foundation staff every two weeks since last summer and participated in hundreds of engagements around the state as it prepares the next iteration of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap.

Last week, SRI provided Flinn with Benchmarking and SWOT Analysis reports, identifying several peer states and regions for analysis and comparison as well as a look at our state’s internal strengths and weaknesses, external opportunities, and threats.

The overall project is moving closer to completion. Stay tuned for details about a fall release.

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It’s been an inspiring day at the Flinn Foundation as leaders of 10 Arizona-based bioscience companies are making their best pitch for $100,000.

Two startups will earn the funding through the Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program while the other eight finalists will be invited to work with the Flinn Foundation and its network and offered one-year memberships to Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee.

The selected companies will be announced March 6 at the Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference in Phoenix.

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Here is the VC panel lined up for the 2025 Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference that will hear live pitches from three companies. Registration is still available.

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What a great kickoff meeting this week for the Flinn Foundation seed grants program’s 10th cohort at the University of Arizona’s Tech Launch Arizona in Tucson. The 10 research teams from U of A and Arizona State University received $100,000 each to help develop medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, and technology to treat brain tumors, migraines, chronic pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease, and colorectal cancer.

The Flinn Foundation has awarded 83 seed grants totaling about $9.5 million over a decade, helping accomplish the Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap goal of increasing the ability of research-performing institutions to turn bench research results into improved disease and illness prevention, detection, and treatment.

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The February discussion at Venture Café’s Bio Night for entrepreneurs offered some key takeaways from Jerry Gibson, Matt Likens, and Shane Brown:

• Gain industry experience but recognize when to pivot before becoming complacent;
• Lead with a “we” mindset rather than an “I” mindset;
• Build a strong company culture early by aligning with core values; and
• Keep teams engaged from the start—before incorporation or forming a board—through incentives like stock options and encouraging a shared sense of ownership.

For those looking to stay connected and continue learning, keep a look out for future Venture Café sessions each Thursday. Photo credit: Tom Kelly

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Are you a bioscience leader in Arizona looking for an opportunity to engage with public-policy issues and grow your network? 

The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation is seeking experienced Arizona leaders for its 2025 Flinn-Brown Fellowship. The deadline to apply is Feb. 28.

About 25 Arizonans from different backgrounds and industries will be selected to join the 465-strong Flinn-Brown Network and participate in the Flinn-Brown Academy this fall. This is a unique opportunity for civically engaged leaders seeking unparalleled learning, connections with top state leaders and policy experts, and personalized long-term support.

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The Flinn Foundation headed north this week for the Flagstaff Bioscience Event to explore what’s ahead for the biosciences in the community. This collaborative event at Lowell Observatory highlighted the many achievements and opportunities for the biosciences in Northern Arizona and helped us develop shared goals as we move toward this fall’s update of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap. Thank you to Richard Bowen at Genterra for organizing the event.

Calling all bioscience entrepreneurs! 

Venture Café Phoenix’s monthly Bio Night on Thursday, Feb. 6 will feature local entrepreneurs Jerry Gibson, chairman & CEO, Venclose; Matt Likens, senior advisor, GT Medical Technologies; and Shane Brown, board director, Neuralert, in the session, “From Vision to Reality: Bioscience Innovators Shaping Phoenix.” The power of entrepreneurship to catalyze and diversify the economy is a longtime focus of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap. The session begins at 4:30 p.m. at 850 PBC in downtown Phoenix.

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Arizona State University has named Sarah Hollingsworth “Holly” Lisanby as founding dean of the ASU School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering, which is scheduled to open in fall 2026 in downtown Phoenix with HonorHealth serving as the primary clinical affiliate.

Lisanby, a psychiatrist, is professor emeritus at Duke University and director of the Division of Translational Research at the National Institute of Mental Health. When Lisanby starts her position May 1 she will be leading the flagship of ASU Health, which will be key to advancing the goals of the Roadmap.

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Dr. Corey Casper’s appointment as Banner Health’s chief research officer frees up Dr. Eric Reiman, a leader in Alzheimer’s disease research and care, and his colleagues to pursue the goal of finding effective Alzheimer’s prevention therapies within 2-4 years. Reiman is chair of the Flinn Foundation’s board of directors.

Dr. Casper is a physician-scientist with experience in complex research, training and clinical care programs at Access to Advanced Health Institute, Fred Hutch Cancer Center and University of Washington.

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Be on the lookout the next time you are on Central Avenue in midtown Phoenix for a Flinn Foundation banner promoting our dedication to the biosciences as well as the Foundation’s 60^th anniversary.

The Flinn Foundation for more than two decades has publicly shared performance data marking the state’s progress in the biosciences—in jobs, wages, NIH grants, R&D expenditures, venture capital, and university tech transfer.

It’s been a great story to share as Arizona became one of the fastest-growing bioscience states. Check out the most recent data released last year and stay tuned for details about new data coming this April as we wind down the current iteration of Arizona’ Bioscience Roadmap.

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It’s been an honor for the Flinn Foundation to host the “Micro to Macro” bioscience-themed art exhibition which ends this week. The 29 works of art explored themes of scientific discovery, research, exploration, illness, recovery, and the connection between art and health care.

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The 2025 conference, “Managing Growth and VC Capital As You Scale,” brings together investors and the startup community with a specific focus on the biosciences and health tech. The all-day event at Creighton University’s Health Sciences Campus will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, fireside chats, plenty of networking opportunities, and more.

Registration and the agenda are now available. The cost is $50, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and post-conference reception.

This annual conference, formerly known as the Arizona BioPreneur Conference, is an integral way for Arizona to reach the goals of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap.

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It’s Thursday, which means the Flinn Foundation’s Arizona Bioscience News was delivered to inboxes throughout the state. Subscribe and enjoy summaries of the week’s media stories highlighting bioscience research, startups, and more.

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Ten Arizona-based research teams from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University have each been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Flinn Foundation to help turn their findings into viable products and treatments that impact patients.

The Flinn Foundation Seed Grants to Promote Translational Research Program, which helps the state reach the goals of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, awards researchers developing medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, and technology to treat a number of conditions.

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Statewide input is needed to make the next iteration of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap as inclusive as possible.
 
Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee and the Flinn Foundation board of directors spent time toward the end of last year brainstorming ideas with SRI International as we build toward the fall 2025 release of the updated Roadmap. SRI has held focus groups and interviews throughout the state and are now reviewing results from a public survey.

Did you know Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap was created in 2002? The Flinn Foundation commissioned the document to help identify opportunities for the state within the bioscience industry. Flinn hired Battelle Technology Partnership Practice to study its potential and found Arizona possessed many of the essential elements needed to become a global leader in niche areas of the biosciences.

It was a natural emphasis for the Foundation, which was created in 1965 by Dr. Robert and Irene Flinn in part to help Arizona’s traditional health care industry keep up with a booming population. Dr. Flinn was a cardiologist who headed the departments of cardiology and electrocardiography at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix and was co-founder and first president of the Arizona affiliate of the American Heart Association.

During the Roadmap’s first decade, Arizona strengthened its research infrastructure and expanded efforts to commercialize research into products, jobs, and companies. The state grew its industry base and became one of the nation’s fastest-growing bioscience states.