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The state of Arizona may be a model for how states not traditionally known to be bioscience giants can pair basic and clinical science with industry to further healthcare goals, fuel economic development and push diagnostic lab technologies through clinical trials and to market faster.
In 2002, the state of Arizona launched the Bioscience Roadmap, a 10-year strategic plan to fast track Arizona toward national bioscience stature and a diversified economy. The plan is the result of findings from a study conducted by the Battelle Memorial Institute, a nonprofit organization, which described the need for increased public and private investments and collaboration between Arizona's higher education, industry and nonprofit sectors. The effort has been supported in part by Proposition 301, which statewide voters approved in November 2000 that provides $1 billion over 20 years for scientific research at Arizona's three public universities through the Technology Research and Initiative Fund. The Flinn Foundation, which sponsored the initial study, also committed a minimum of $50 million to advance Arizona's bioscience sector over 10 years.
As part of the Roadmap, the BIO5 Institute debuted in 2001 at the University of Arizona in Tucson. The Institute brings together faculty and researchers from five disciplines to tackle complex biology-based problems affecting humanity. One of five research initiatives at the Institute is Translational Research in Agriculture and Medicine (TRAM). BIO5 works with academic and commercial partners to identify high-profile projects and form collaborations among scientists in basic and applied research to faster translate research to technology/products and ultimately to patients.
In December 2009, the Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, the economic development arm of the city of Tucson, held a three-day media tour of Tucson biosciences/life sciences companies to make local and national bioscience media aware of the BIO5 Institute and its vision.
During the tour, Donna M. Wolk, PhD, D(ABMM), gave demonstrations about her research at the Institute and answered questions. Dr. Wolk is a principle investigator in the BIO5 Institute as well as associate professor in the departments of Pathology and Medicine and division chief for Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Microbiology at the Arizona Health Science Center in Tucson. Her research focuses on molecular diagnosis, epidemiology and pathogenesis of public health threats, specifically drug-resistant microbes such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and bloodstream infections that lead to sepsis. Her labs have successfully completed several FDA clinical trials.
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