Category: Innovation
-
NIH grants Shang Song $2.32M for spinal cord bioimplant
Award recognizes the biomedical engineer’s work toward treating spinal injuries and diseases. The University of Arizona’s Shang Song, Frank L. and Daphna Lederman Professor and assistant professor of biomedical engineering, supervises students in The Song Lab investigating health care devices that speed injury recovery. The National Institutes of Health granted Shang Song a five-year Director’s New Innovator…
-
From Proven to Pioneering: SynCardia’s Next Leap in Artificial Heart Technology
Phoenix, AZ (November 12, 2025) – Tucson-based SynCardia Systems, LLC, the manufacturer of the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Picard Medical, Inc. Picard Medical became a publicly traded company on August 29, 2025, and completed its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on September 2, 2025, raising approximately $19.5 million in gross…
-
U of A Works to Build a Pediatric Powerhouse with Institute
Stewart Goldman, MD, left, and Vlad Kalinichenko, MD, PhD, right, are committed to improving the health and lives of children through their work with the Phoenix Children’s Research Institute, a collaborative effort between the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and Phoenix Children’s hospital. (Photos by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences…
-
Improving life for children with autism
Northern Arizona University is playing a key role in a new nationwide research initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health to improve health and quality of life for people with autism. Olivia Lindly, an associate professor of health sciences in NAU’s Center for Community Health and Engaged Research (CHER), is co-principal investigator on a…
-
Faknostics — Redefining Cancer Therapeutics Through FAK Targeting
Phoenix, AZ (October 30, 2025) – According to the American Cancer Society, 2024 marked the first time the United States reported more than 2 million new cancer cases in a single year, with an estimated 2,001,140 diagnoses. This is where FAKnostics plans to make a difference by targeting focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a protein found…
-
Pioneering Early Detection for Ovarian Cancer
Phoenix, AZ (October 30, 2025) – A research team at the University of Arizona, led by Jennier Barton, PhD, who is currently serving as interim vice provost for health programs at UA Health Sciences, is redefining early detection in women’s health. The creation of the falloposcope could allow physicians to detect ovarian cancer at its…
-
A decade of impact: U of A and Banner Health transform health care in Arizona
University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella and Banner Health CEO Amy Perry highlight a proclamation from Governor Katie Hobbs declaring Oct. 24 as Academic Medicine Day. Photo courtesy of the Arizona Board of Regents In the 10 years since Banner Health and the University of Arizona forged a partnership to redefine academic medicine and health care delivery…
-
GPN Vaccines Inc Completes Acquisition of BacVax Inc.
New York, USA – 24th October 2025 GPN Vaccines Inc (“GPN”) is pleased to announce it has successfully completed the acquisition of BacVax Inc. (“BacVax”), a biotechnology company based in Phoenix, Arizona, that is developing vaccines targeting bacterial infections. The acquisition further increases GPN’s footprint in the United States and builds the company’s pipeline through…
-
Arizona’s Bioscience Ecosystem Shines in October
October was a milestone month for Arizona’s bioscience and innovation community, marked by international partnerships, statewide recognition, and a powerful display of collaboration across academia, industry, and government. From the signing of a new Taiwan–Arizona collaboration in digital health to a strong Arizona presence at SEMICON West to a full slate of events during AZBio…
-
DeepSomatic method improves detection of cancer mutations
Study combines machine learning with expanded genetic training sets A new machine learning method called DeepSomatic can significantly improve the detection of genetic mutations potentially related to cancer, according to a study published in Nature Biotechnology. Genetic mutations that are acquired during a person’s life, called somatic variants, are often associated with tumors. Detecting these variants…
