Arizona Starts New Era with Bioscience Ceremony
June 13, 2003
A groundbreaking ceremony in downtown Phoenix today marked the start of construction
on the first building in the new Phoenix Bioscience Center at Copper Square.
Officials from the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), the
International Genomics Consortium and the City of Phoenix joined with Governor
Janet Napolitano and more than 520 guests in celebrating the groundbreaking.
"Today is a historic day for Arizona. The Phoenix Bioscience Center will
boost the whole state as we claim our proper place in the knowledge-based
industry of the future. I know we all are proud to be a part of this important
occasion," said Governor Janet Napolitano.
The Phoenix Bioscience Center at Copper Square will be the home of the Translational
Genomics Research Center, the International Genomics Consortium and other
cutting-edge projects.
"Today is a day that marks our amazing progress in solidifying Arizona as
a center for bioscience while also looking forward to even greater progress
in the future. In a few years, when we have literally hundreds of researchers
working in downtown Phoenix, we'll remember today," said Phoenix Mayor Skip
Rimsza.
Today's ceremony comes less than one year after the announcement on June
26, 2002 that Arizona had secured the funding commitments to establish TGen.
At that press conference, Dr. Jeffrey Trent said he would lead the new research
institute as President and Scientific Director and serve as Senior Scientific
Adviser to the International Genomics Consortium.
"The promise of world-class research has a new home here in Arizona. Thanks
to unfailing hard work from people throughout the state, the Phoenix Bioscience
Center in Copper Square is becoming a reality. This excellent facility will
enable TGen to further its goal of delivering improved diagnostics and therapeutics.
We have the privilege of fostering efforts that can better the lives of people
around the world through breakthroughs in medical science," said Trent.
The collaborative spirit that produced such progress over the past year will
continue to enhance Arizona's movement in the knowledge-based economy, said
Richard Mallery, IGC chairman.
"Bioscience is the fastest growing segment of the national economy. We're
confident that IGC, TGen and their strategic partnerships with the state's
three universities and research organizations across the country will enhance
Arizona's economy by bringing new industries and new jobs to the state. We
will keep our best and brightest young people right here in Arizona," said
Mallery.
The TGen/IGC headquarters facility will consist of a six-story, approximately
170,000 square foot building. SmithGroup is the design firm and DPR Construction
Inc. is the builder. Total project cost will not exceed $46 million, with
the facility ready for occupancy November 2004.
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About TGen
The mission of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is to
make and translate genomic discoveries into advances in human health. "Translational
research" is a relatively new field employing innovative advances, such as
genome-wide array technology, and the burgeoning field of computational biology,
to provide the data and tools necessary to identify the genes that play a
role in hereditary susceptibility to disease. For more information about TGen,
visit its Web site, http://www.tgen.org.
About IGC
The International Genomics Consortium (IGC) is a non-profit genomics research
institute that seeks to revolutionize the treatment and prevention of cancer
and complex diseases by rigorously developing and applying post-genome science
to advances in human health. IGC is dedicated to the creation and public-release
of clinically annotated molecular databases characterizing human disease.
These databases are useful for discovery and validation of new diagnostic
markers and therapeutic targets. Consortia members include medical centers,
pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology and informatics entities, as well
as foundations and government sponsors working in a private-public partnership.
(See http://www.intgen.org)
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An artist's rendering of the TGen/IGC facility is available electronically
on the TGen website: www.tgen.org
For further information, contact: Francie Noyes Director, Media Relations
Translational Genomics Research Institute 602-343-8412
Media Contact:
| Francie Noyes (TGen) |
602-343-8412 |
| Cynthia Weaver |
602-262-6180 |
