The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix announced April 7 the Flinn Foundation has awarded the college $5.52 million to establish research faculty positions on the Phoenix Bioscience Core and support training to further translational research in cardiovascular diseases, neurosciences and mental health.

The funding will be awarded over a series of five years and will develop two new research faculty positions — one in the Translational Cardiovascular Research Center and one in the Department of Translational Neurosciences. Additionally, it will create additional training opportunities to further the UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix’s translational research on the Phoenix Bioscience Core, with focuses on cardiovascular diseases, neurosciences and mental health. 

This grant is one of the largest grants in the Flinn Foundation’s history, said Flinn Foundation CEO Tammy McCleod. The Flinn Foundation has supported many facets of the Phoenix Bioscience Core in recent years, including academic, entrepreneurial and event activities around the PBC.

“We recognize the continued growth of the College of Medicine – Phoenix, and its recruitment of diverse scientists, clinicians and students, is critical to improving patient care and spurring economic development,” McCleod said. 

The gift from the Flinn Foundation will allow UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix researchers to partner with clinical research leaders at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, the VA Phoenix Health Care System and Phoenix Children’s to develop new solutions for unmet medical needs.

“The Flinn Foundation’s investment in the College of Medicine – Phoenix will continue to elevate the city’s growing reputation as a hub for biomedical innovation and collaboration,” said Michael D. Dake, senior vice president for health sciences at UArizona. “By increasing the tempo of translating research into real-world solutions, we can more quickly expand access to quality health care for everyone, which is a priority at the University of Arizona Health Sciences.”