^Bio2025

Last week, the Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC) joined a powerful Arizona delegation for the 2025 BIO International Convention — the largest biotechnology conference in the world, with over 20,000 attendees convening in Boston, MA. This year’s event marked a meaningful shift in momentum for Arizona’s bioscience ecosystem, with renewed energy, new partnerships, and serious investment conversations underway. 

Phoenix Shows Up in Full Force

The City of Phoenix, alongside its economic development partners, including GPEC and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), brought together one of its largest delegations to date, hosting more than 60 leaders from industry, academia, and the innovation economy. Their presence wasn’t just about numbers. It was about intention.

“I have been attending BIO with the City of Phoenix for 5 years now, and the most exciting part for me is the people. Both spending time with the great Phoenix ecosystem builders that come with the delegation, and meeting new people and companies that want to learn more about and come to Phoenix. This year, we had an extra exciting time when we announced 800 PBC!” (Kyle Jardine, Vice President and Market Executive, Wexford Science + Technology, Life Science Development and Leasing)

From formal meetings with companies seeking U.S. expansion, to ecosystem storytelling, Phoenix came ready to do business — and it showed.

City of Phoenix Highlights: 

• The Next Frontier, presented by Biotechnology Innovation Organization and produced by BBC StoryWorks, debuted featuring TGen – Part of City of Hope’s pioneering brain health study, MindCrowd, nearing 1 million participants
• Calviri is set to launch a new early cancer detection test for dogs this August, capable of identifying tumors at stage 1
• Binary Genomics provided DNA-based blood tests that adapt to capture unique epigenetic fingerprints from each patient’s tumor
• MindXSciences provided precision medicine for mental health through apps, blood tests, and targeted therapeutics

Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) Highlights:

• 19 meetings held with biotech companies
• 3 companies expressed immediate interest in relocating, 2 additional companies with longer relocation timelines
• 6 companies explored active partnerships with PBC — including Lunch & Learns, Venture Café sessions, SBIR/STTR support, and flexible office/lab space

A few stand-out trends:

• Interest in U.S. expansion is heating up, particularly for manufacturing operations
• Companies with U.S. clients are increasingly looking to establish a U.S. entity to streamline business
• Energy was significantly higher than last year, signaling a market rebound and deeper interest in Phoenix as a serious player

Big Moments for the Phoenix Bioscience Core

PBC proudly joined the City of Phoenix to showcase how Arizona is positioning itself as the next major bioscience hub. From key meetings to touring innovation campuses, it was a high-impact week for PBC visibility and partnership-building.

High-Impact Events & Announcements:

• Startup Stadium featured early-stage founders, including:
  • Alexander Niculescu, MD, PhD, of MindX Sciences
  • Michael T. Barrett, CEO of Binary Genomics (a PBC-based company)
• Wexford Science & Technology released renderings and announced preleasing for 800 PBC — a new 200,000 sq. ft. research and innovation building with:
  • Hospitality-style lobbies
  • Shared convening and conference spaces
  • Furnished outdoor collaboration areas

This building will anchor the next phase of the PBC and mark a major milestone in our district’s growth.

• BBC StoryWorks + TGen + BIO: The City of Phoenix helped unveil a beautifully produced feature spotlighting Dr. Matt Huentelman and the MindCrowd research study. This storytelling partnership with BBC StoryWorks and Biotechnology Innovation Organization brought Arizona bioscience to a global audience.

Learning from the Best: Tour of CIC Massachusetts

One of the many highlights of the week was a visit to Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) in Massachusetts — home to the original Venture Café. Sharon Ducati and Scarlett Spring had the opportunity to tour the space and meet with CIC’s Assistant Director, Jason Connell, learning best practices for cultivating innovation culture, supporting startup ecosystems, and activating collaborative spaces.

We left full of ideas to bring back to Venture Café Phoenix and to continue evolving our programming in support of PBC companies and partners.

Why It Matters

This year’s BIO Conference reinforced a few key truths:

• Phoenix is no longer emerging — it’s accelerating. Companies are not only showing interest; they’re committing to relocate, invest, and grow here.
• Arizona’s bioscience infrastructure is expanding strategically. From real estate and workforce to regulatory support and capital access, the state is stepping up.
• PBC is increasingly seen as a connector. As companies explore partnerships and look to land in Phoenix, the PBC is offering a soft landing through mentorship, lab access, programming, and collaboration.

Looking Ahead

We’re bringing home more than just business cards — we’re bringing back new opportunities, deeper connections, and a renewed sense of momentum. As we head into the next phases of programming at the PBC — from the next XLR8 PBC cohort to the launch of 800 PBC — the seeds planted at BIO 2025 will play a direct role in shaping what’s next.

About the Phoenix Bioscience Core
The Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC) is a 30-acre life sciences innovation district located in downtown Phoenix. It hosts Arizona’s three public research universities—Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona—as well as leading genomics pioneers like the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope, and the International Genomics Consortium. The PBC also collaborates with major healthcare systems, including Banner Health, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Dignity Health, HonorHealth, Phoenix VA, and Valleywise Health, alongside a growing number of emerging life science companies. This unique concentration of research scientists and healthcare professionals fosters unprecedented collaborations, advancing precision medicine from discovery to delivery. To learn more, please visit phoenixbiosciencecore.com.

Sharon Ducati
Communications and Community Engagement Manager
sducati.pbc@azregents.edu

About Connect Labs by Wexford 

Connect Labs by Wexford is a flexible, scale-in-place lab and innovation infrastructure located within Wexford’s dynamic and amenity-rich Knowledge Communities. Specifically created for emerging and growth companies in the life sciences, computational, engineering, and energy industries, Connect Labs offers pre-built and furnished lab, support, and office space with a purposefully curated set of amenities, services, and shared equipment that provides companies the space to grow and attract talent; specialized equipment to leverage and conserve capital; intentional proximity to peers, experts and potential strategic partners; and opportunities to conduct research to improve the human condition and drive economic impact. Connect Labs has locations in Phoenix, Baltimore, Sacramento, and Charlotte. To learn more, please visit wexfordconnectlabs.com. 

About the Greater Phoenix Economic Council

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), a globally recognized top economic development organization (EDO), works to attract and grow quality businesses and advocate for the competitiveness of Greater Phoenix. A data-driven regional EDO, GPEC works with 22 member communities, Maricopa and Pinal County, and more than 220 private investors to accomplish its mission and serve as a strategic partner to companies across the world as they expand or relocate to Greater Phoenix. Over the past 35 years, GPEC has fueled the regional economy by helping over 1,000 companies, creating nearly 190,000 jobs, and more than $69B in capital investment. Greater Phoenix is in a relentless pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial-focused companies looking to thrive and scale in a vibrant, dynamic region. There is an undeniable spirit about Greater Phoenix, one rooted in strength, collaboration, and resilience. Greater Phoenix is Greater Together. To learn more, please visit https://www.gpec.org/.

Logan Newman  Marketing & Communications Manager lnewman@gpec.org

June 26, 2025