Federal funding plays an important role in developing Arizona’s science and technology climate by adding jobs to Arizona’s economy and validating Arizona’s research community.

• 52 Arizona companies received AZ FAST grants to pursue SBIR/STTR opportunities. About $4.7 million in federal grants have been awarded to AZ FAST participants, with an additional $1.74 million pending. Click here to find out how to apply.
  
  
• The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University has been awarded a $3.2 million grant to develop a safe and effective vaccine against the disease tularemia, more commonly known as "rabbit fever." The bacterium that causes the disease, Francisella tularensis, is a potential biothreat agent against which no effective vaccine currently exists.
  
  
• In November 2005, the UA Bio5 team lead by Rod Wing, reaped $6.2 million in NSF grants to map the corn plant genome. This project is to enhance drought resistance, yield and nutritional value in corn and other cereal groups.
  
  
• In October 2005, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) received a five-year $15 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to discover and develop new treatments for pancreatic cancer.
  
  
• Arizona State University won a $6.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to create a new Center for Nanotechnology in Society, the largest of newly funded NSF activities on nanotechnologies in society, in October 2005.
  
  
• In August 2005, the Arizona Cancer Center received a $21.6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to continue its Chemoprevention of Colon Cancer Program.
  
  
• Northern Arizona University and the Translational Genomics Research Institute landed a $3.9 million grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services and $4.6 million in corporate support from Applied Biosystems Group that will fund research into the causes and treatment of sepsis and community-acquired pneumonia.

The Governor's Celebration of Innovation These results are the collaborative efforts by the Arizona Department of Commerce, Arizona Governor’s Office, Arizona State University, Arizona Technology Council, Bioscience Steering Committee, Commerce and Economic Development Commission, Flinn Foundation, Government Information Technology Agency, Governor’s Council on Innovation and Technology, Northern Arizona University, Southern Arizona Tech Council, and University of Arizona.