Business Facilities - March 2008 - (Page 20)

COVER STORY Outside the Biotechnology Clusters The BIO5 and Medical Research Building on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, AZ Guerra, who also serves as president of TGen Accelerators. “Accelerators was formed as the group that helps shepherd that technology from a lab and into commercialization.” More biotechnology investment came to Phoenix in February 2007 when Abraxis Bioscience announced its plans to spend $21.5 million on two TGen-related personalized medicine initiatives that test and develop targeted cancer treatments. “The Abraxis investment is big for a company outside of Arizona,” says Guerra. “I think it is a validation of what we are doing here.” As part of the global initiative to develop personalized medicine, the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and Flinn Foundation launched a $45 20 MARCH 2008 million initiative in October 2007 to develop personalized molecular diagnostics under the Partnership for Personalized Medicine. This initiative is a collaboration of the Biodesign Institute of Arizona State University, TGen, and Piper Trust. “Through the Piper and Flinn investments, Phoenix has a good chance to become a biotechnology center,” says Guerra. “Two separate foundations coming together to leverage their resources to do something substantial in this field of personalized medicine—it’s pretty remarkable.” Arizona’s other rising biotechnology star is the city of Tucson, whose bioscience economy is being expanded through programs such as the Technology Research Initiative Fund (TRIF), BIO5, and the new Arizona Bioscience Park. The state of Arizona’s TRIF fund, set up to increase funding for biotechnology, helped to create BIO5, a University of Arizona (UA) institute that is focused on bringing together researchers, faculty, and students to conduct interdisciplinary research and translate that into real world applications in medicine and agriculture. BIO5’s 317,000-squarefoot facility at UA was designed to provide companies with adaptive technology and space without costing a fortune. “We consolidated our core facilities, which is a big benefit for industry and researchers,” says Vicky Chandler, director of BIO5. PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN SARTON

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Business Facilities - March 2008 Contents First Word Snapshots California Seeks Immigration Reform To Spur Economic Growth Outside the Biotechnology Clusters Global Biotech Competition Heats Up Location Is Key To Your Bottom Line New Incentives For New Hampshire Metro Spotlight: Jersey City, NJ Europe's Center For Goods, Real and Virtual Access Your Markets From Pennsylvania Corporate Moves: Illinois Louisiana Upgrades Important Port Road Projects To Accelerate Michigan's Economy Corporate Moves: South Carolina Metro Spotlight: Salt Lake City, UT Advertiser Index Inside LiveXchange

Business Facilities - March 2008

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