Category Archive for "Bioscience" |

Biodesign Institute raising funds for startups

The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University is in the process of securing $5 million to $10 million to provide funds for the first startup companies expected to move later this winter into its new Biodesign Impact Accelerator.

Those startup companies — to be selected from proposals now under review by the accelerator's executive committee — will be designed to commercialize the institute's research discoveries and technologies, he said.

The startups will have access to up to 8,000 square feet of research space at the Biodesign Institute, located on ASU's Tempe, Ariz. campus — as well as an entire approximately 25,000-square-foot floor a five-minute drive away at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale (Ariz.) Innovation Center. The center, co-developed with the city of Scottsdale, is designed to provide expanding companies entering or expanding within the US with services that include access to new technologies, capital networks, business education and skilled workers.

HHS provides $22M for biomarkers for radiation tests

The Department of Health and Human Services through its special projects research arm has awarded a total of $35 million to several universities and companies to fund development of biomarker technologies that could determine how much radiation a person has absorbed after radiological incidents such as a 'dirty' bomb or a nuclear explosion.

Those awards include $22 million for gene expression and protein expression biomarker-based tools that could be used in the field.

The funding, which could reach up to $400 million over five years, will support research at Duke University, Arizona State University, Stanford University, Meso Scale Diagnostics, SRI International, and Visca, among others.

Federal agencies announce STEM education grants

Here are several STEM-related grant opportunities for you to review and consider: Department of Homeland Security Office of Procurement Operations (Grants Division); DHS HS–STEM Career Development Grants (CDG) Grant. Details here: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=50776 National Science Foundation; Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Grant. Details here: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=50629 Department of Health and Human Services, Office of […]

ASU team gets grant for nuclear detection

An Arizona State University-led research team has secured a $40.8 million federal award to develop a radiation-measuring device that could be used in the event of a nuclear accident.

The researchers plan to develop a device that emergency medical workers can use to quickly gauge who needs timely medical treatment because of harmful radiation exposure.

ASU lures latest heavy hitter for biodesign

Arizona State University has hired another high-profile professional at its Biodesign Institute.

Lee Cheatham, executive director of the Washington Technology Center in Seattle, will begin his new job at ASU Jan. 11.

He will have two new titles: general manager of a new entity called the Biodesign Impact Accelerator and operations director at the institute.

UA, industry use robotics to promote engineering among less privileged students

UA, Industry Use Robotics to Promote Engineering Among Less Privileged Students Students at the 2009 Summer Engineering Robotics Camp get ready for a robot street race outside the UA Engineering Building. The MEP program also gives one professor an opening to develop beneficial relationships with private industry. Pete Brown, College of Engineering December 15, 2009 […]

Lottery big part of state funds

While other contributors to state revenues have dropped off severely, the Arizona Lottery has been a growing source of tens of millions of dollars per year since its inception in 1980.

The lottery funds a variety of voter-approved programs in areas such as education, health and transportation and has contributed $2.3 billion in all to its beneficiaries.

Its revenue has been so reliable that one proposal to plug the state budget deficit involves borrowing against lottery proceeds. Called lottery securitization, that plan calls for the state to take out a loan and pay it back with annual lottery profits.

Phoenix high-tech school off to slow start

Source: Eugene Scott, Arizona Republic, December 20, 2009 A new high school expected to boost the number of Arizona’s science and technology professionals has attracted interest from only about half of the number of students it plans to enroll in the fall. The Center for Research in Engineering, Science and Technology hopes to enroll […]

Warming climate chills sonoran desert’s spring flowers

Global warming is giving a boost to Sonoran Desert plants that have an edge during cold weather, according to new research.

Although the overall numbers of winter annuals have declined since 1982, species that germinate and grow better at low temperatures are becoming more common.

"It's an unexpected result -- that global warming has led to an increase in cold-adapted species," said lead author Sarah Kimball, a research associate at the University of Arizona in Tucson. "Because the winter rains are arriving later, they are occurring under colder temperatures."

Climate change is shifting the winter storm track so the Sonoran Desert's winter rains now generally begin in late November or early December, rather than during the balmy days of late October.

SFAz awards math & science achievement grant to launch innovative H.S. engineering program

Tucson Unified School District and the University of Arizona receive grant to build statewide pathways for students preparedness in engineering careers (December 1, 2009 – TUCSON, AZ) Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) in partnership with the University of Arizona College of Engineering (UA) has won a two-year, competitive Math or Science Achievement Grant (MSAG) […]