TGen News & Press Releases

• Written by Steve Yozwiak /
• Posted Wednesday October 12, 2005

Flinn Foundation Awards TGen Additional $9 Million

Latest Commitment Helps Launch TGen Naming Initiative

Phoenix, AZ, October 12, 2005-The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) announced today the receipt of a $9 million unrestricted grant from the Flinn Foundation designed to help accelerate research discoveries across a broad spectrum of diseases. The Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation had awarded the largest private gift to establish TGen in 2002; this new grant brings the Foundation's total commitment to $24 million. One third of this most recent grant will serve as a match challenge for the TGen Foundation's Naming Campaign.

"TGen is well on its way to meeting the ambitious expectations outlined by Arizona public and private leaders when it was created," said John Murphy, Flinn Foundation President and CEO. "Its track record has been remarkable in achieving genomic discoveries, generating federal grants, and forging close partnerships with Arizona's universities and research institutions. This grant celebrates those achievements and recognizes TGen's importance in building Arizona's competitiveness in the biosciences economy."

The Flinn Foundation has taken a leadership role in the statewide drive to build a thriving biosciences center. In 2002, the Foundation funded a comprehensive study by the Battelle Memorial Institute that outlined a 10-year roadmap to "fast track" Arizona on a path to achieve national bioscience stature and a diversified economy. The study highlighted Arizona's existing research strengths and emphasized the need for increased public- and private-sector collaboration.

"The Flinn Foundation is playing a leading role in catalyzing Arizona's charge in the biosciences," said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, President and Scientific Director of TGen. "This grant will allow TGen to pursue a number of initiatives that should greatly influence our research capacity. The fact that the grant is unrestricted indicates the Flinn's belief that as an institute, TGen is on the right track."

The announcement of the Flinn award was initially made at the Silverleaf dinner hosted by noted Valley leaders Jacquie and Bennett Dorrance and the TGen Foundation.

The Challenge
One third of the Flinn award, or $3 million, will be used as a dollar-for-dollar challenge fund for the TGen Foundation"s Naming Initiative. This allows donors to make a lasting contribution to research by naming spaces within TGen such as laboratory benches, conference rooms, and other areas.

"We are delighted that Jacquie and Bennett Dorrance are again leading the effort to secure funding for TGen's research initiatives," said Michael Bassoff, President of the TGen Foundation. "This year, with an eye toward attracting a new family of contributors, there will be opportunities for donors to make gifts directly to the research program of their choice."

Over 100 naming opportunities exist and the TGen Foundation hopes to name 20 of the 50 available lab benches by year's end.

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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 genomics research is a relatively new field employing innovative advances arising from the Human Genome Project and applying them to the development of diagnostics, prognostics and therapies for cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes and other complex diseases. TGen is focused on personalized medicine and plans to accomplish its goals through robust and disease-focused research programs and its state-of-the-art bioinformatics and computational biology facilities.

About the Flinn Foundation
The Flinn Foundation was established by Dr. and Mrs. Robert S. Flinn in 1965 with the mission of improving the quality of life in Arizona. The nonprofit philanthropy supports the advancement of Arizona's bioscience sector, the Flinn Scholars Program for undergraduate studies at an Arizona public university, and arts and culture via the Maricopa Partnership for Arts and Culture.

Media Contacts:
Galen Perry-TGen (602) 343-8423
Amy Erickson-TGen (602) 343-8522
Brad Halvorsen-Flinn Foundation (602) 744-6803