In this edition of TechFocus, we talk with James Polcyn, CEO at Phocos. Phocos was founded 20 years ago to bring reliable energy to those who do not have access to it. The regional offices provide local sales support, engineering, and R&D to serve their customers. Listen to hear Polcyn discuss how Phocos is creating a world class organization across multiple countries and cultures.
Greg Caporaso, director of the Center for Applied Microbiome Science, part of the Pathogen and Microbiome Institute at Northern Arizona University, has been awarded a $3.75 million grant by the National Cancer Institute to build software capable of analyzing and archiving data focused on the interplay between the human microbiome (the trillions of microorganisms living in and on the human body) and diverse types of cancer.
The National Science Foundation has awarded Northern Arizona University a four-year, $1.5 million grant to examine survival strategies that natural systems might use to respond to the combined effects of environmental change and invasive species. The research effort is a collaboration among investigators at NAU, the Desert Botanical Garden and Arizona State University.
Advancing science and technology in a way that helps to address the knowledge and innovation needs of the nation is much more difficult. But that’s the sort of challenge that today’s civil and political unrest indicate should be at the center of how policy-makers organize public investments in science and technology.
TGen’s work in solving disease outbreaks and building genomic surveillance and detection systems. This work includes designing rapid, highly accurate and cost-effective tests for critical pathogens —such as Valley Fever, MRSA and other hospital superbugs, influenza, tuberculosis — finding and describing new disease pathogens, and detecting outbreaks at the earliest possible timepoints and tracking the evolution of these pathogens.
As the Arizona Legislature approaches the midpoint of their current session, I would like to share with you some pending legislation lawmakers are considering that would not only support our technology community but also residents of Arizona. Two bills would extend two enormously successful tax credit programs while another measure would help fuel expansion of a mindset focused on science, technology, engineering and math.
Audiologist and molecular biologist O’neil Guthrie, an associate professor in Northern Arizona University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, is collaborating with New Jersey-based Optigenex to conduct a pre-clinical investigation to help the body’s natural ability to repair DNA through
a novel therapy.
Support will propel TGen’s plans for a clinical trial to study new treatments for ovarian cancer, and to support TGen’s Center for Rare Childhood Disorders, including funds for genetic sequencing, which helps doctors diagnose pediatric patients.
The University of Arizona is rolling out a new cybersecurity degree program, the Biodesign Institute receives $1.5 million to develop early-warning system for flu outbreaks, a new Maricopa IT Institute to open at Phoenix College, Tucson-based QuakeWrap earns EPA research funding, Tucson-based Paragon Space Development Corporation wins $5M in government contracts, and more.
When it comes to technology talent, Tucson can’t yet compete with giants like San Francisco and Seattle. But Tucson recently got on the map- literally- as an up-andcoming,smaller North American market for top tech talent in a report issued by CBRE Research.