UArizona Health Sciences selects downtown Phoenix for research center targeting immunotherapies
University of Arizona Health Sciences has selected downtown Phoenix for a new health sciences center that will develop treatments to stimulate or suppress the immune system to fight disease.
Plans call for building this new center on the Phoenix Bioscience Core on the southwest corner of Seventh and Fillmore streets near its medical school operations. The 293,000-square-foot structure will have 10 floors above ground and two floors below ground.
Called the Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies, or CAMI, the new center will focus on precision medicine for immunotherapies research and treatment, said Dr. Michael D. Dake, senior vice president for University of Arizona Health Sciences.
“We believe the Phoenix Bioscience Core is the perfect location to allow us to bring together world-class faculty, clinical researchers and internationally recognized thought leaders to catalyze the next generation of precision health care treatments,” he said in a statement.
The new center will house 42 principal investigator-led research groups and 15 bioengineering research groups. It also will have space for UArizona’s Office for Research Innovation and Impact, along with the academic research activities for a new biomedical engineering program.
Research will focus on cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and real-time immune system monitoring.
While development costs are still being determined, funding to develop this project will come from the New Economy Initiative. It is being developed under the guidance of a 17-member advisory council of leaders from academic research, biomedical and health care industries, government organizations and corporations across Arizona.
Arizona embraced precision medicine over two decades ago when TGen chose Phoenix as the home of one of our nation’s leading translational genomics research institutes, said Joan Koerber-Walker, president and CEO of the Arizona Bioindustry Association.
“Our researchers are exploring this exciting new frontier in medicine,” she said. “Companies like OncoMyx Therapeutics are developing innovative treatments, and our health-care leaders are working to address current needs while preparing for the future of this expanding field of care,” she said.
CAMI is the next step in Arizona’s development as a leader in the field of precision medicine, she said.
“Working together, our elected leaders, the Arizona Board of Regents, our universities, our hospitals, and our industry have created a foundation that we can build on for the benefit of patients in Arizona and around the world,” Koerber-Walker said.