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Councilman Greg Stanton's
Our Turn Column
The Arizona Republic
March 20, 2005
TGen Dedication
By: Greg Stanton and Dr. Jeffrey Trent
Tuesday's dedication of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the International Genomics Consortium (IGC) headquarters ushers in a forward-thinking era for our community.
The new building and surrounding 15-acre Downtown Phoenix Biomedicine and Education Campus are much more than offices and infrastructure. The biotech concept is a statement about Arizona's future, as this initiative stands poised to transform and energize our regional economy.
Goals put on paper just three years ago are now becoming reality:
- discovering medical breakthroughs that will help people here and around the world
- expanding scientific educational opportunities for college and graduate students to create a better-educated workforce
- spurring more interest in math and science as a career for young students
All of these outcomes lead to the creation of high-wage, quality jobs and catalyze long-term, diverse economic development opportunities.
To achieve full benefit, the entire region must play a role. Current partnerships with state government, Native American communities, charities and major corporations show that our community understands biotech is an intelligent economic choice.
Along with our partners, we have watched TGen and IGC grow from a concept to the current reality, where cutting-edge research is a daily activity.
And that is just the beginning.
Think of the activity on the Bioscience Center as a nucleus - a million square feet of the most modern research space. Throughout the Valley and state, thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of investment will surround that nucleus. It's part of a larger, long-term commitment to research and education. Private corporations are already multiplying the economic benefits.
The Arizona Department of Commerce tells us that since 2002, 22 new companies have either moved to the area or expanded their bio-medical science operations. That has created more than 2,200 jobs and $117 million in new capital investment.
More is on the way. A Flinn Foundation study completed by the Battelle Memorial Institute confirms the wisdom of investing in bioscience. The study projected that an annual Arizona investment of $140 million in bioscience for the next 10 years could triple yearly funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Eventually, local biotech is expected to generate more than 32,000 jobs, bringing a forecasted return of more than $6 for every dollar invested in the project.
These biotech workers will conduct research using novel technology that improves the lives of people in Arizona and around the world. TGen scientists have already achieved a breakthrough with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, melanoma and diabetes in Native American communities are other targets.
Phoenix will attract top students and faculty as the downtown transforms medical education with its University of Arizona College of Medicine. Future doctors will learn in an environment enriched by outstanding research and teaching from UA, Arizona State University and TGen. They will have access to innovative educational experiences through the downtown schools of Pharmacy and Nursing. This design will attract and develop exceptional medical professionals for Arizona . In fact, more than 15,000 ASU Downtown Center students will soon study in the area, with access to new learning opportunities.
Another exciting development is the future Phoenix Union High School District science high school near the biosciences campus. There, local students will learn the necessary math and science skills that can lead to better jobs and provide them with the opportunity to strive for careers at entities like TGen and IGC.
Partners from the beginning, ASU, UA and Northern Arizona University created the Arizona Biomedical Collaborative (ABC) to undertake more cutting-edge research. We are also working closely with Maricopa Community Colleges, who are currently training future laboratory workers.
Our overall partnership demonstrates a strong, multi-faceted commitment to push the Valley's economy forward by promoting biotechnology. The city of Phoenix, TGen and IGC applaud the community for recognizing the dynamic future of science and economic development.
Initial investments have already created an exciting biomedical research environment that is pushing the envelope of science and discovery.
Even better, more is yet to come.
Councilman Greg Stanton is chairman of the Knowledge, Workforce and Education Subcommittee.
Jeffrey Trent, Ph.D. is TGen's President & Scientific Director.
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