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 350 guests in celebrating the groundbreaking.
"Today is an 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," Trent said.
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 unique strategic partnership with the state's three universities and partnering with 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 Richard Mallery, IGC chairman.
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.
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 arising from the Human Genome Project
to apply to the development of diagnostics, prognostics and
therapies for cancer, neurologic disorders, diabetes and other
complex diseases. 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)