Congressman Renzi Announces New Collaborative Center Between TGen & NAU for Pathogen Technology and Diagnostics

'TGen North' a giant step forward in Arizona's biosciences corridor expansion FLAGSTAFF, AZ - Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ-1) announced efforts to build a new collaborative research center between Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Northern Arizona University (NAU) for pathogen technology diagnostics. The new facility will be based in Flagstaff and represents a significant step forward in Arizona's biosciences corridor expansion. Congressman Renzi was joined at the announcement by Flagstaff Mayor Joe Donaldson, TGen Director Paul Keim, Northern Arizona University President John Haeger, Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce President Julie Patrick and Greater Flagstaff Economic Council Director Stephanie McKinney. "[The] launch of TGen North fulfills the goal we set out when TGen was established four years ago," said Congressman Renzi. "And that was to bring new bioscience jobs and opportunities to the people of northern Arizona. This way they can contribute their unique work to improve the public health and biosecurity for our nation." The new 5,000 square foot facility, called TGen North, will be led by nationally recognized biosafety expert Dr. Paul Keim, who is currently the Director of the TGen's Pathogen Genomics Division and is a professor of biology and Cowden Endowed Chair in Microbiology at NAU. The facility will be located at the newly constructed technology incubator at the Airpark in Flagstaff. The scientific focus of TGen North will be to use the genomic technology and tools TGen typically applies to disease and apply them to biodefense, pathogen diagnostics and microbial forensics, thereby continuing TGen's mission of developing earlier diagnoses and smarter treatments. The new TGen Center is funded by multiple federal agencies that support medical diagnostics, forensic analyses and biodefense-related work including the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Homeland Security and others. The launch of TGen North in Flagstaff is a significant step forward to expanding the biosciences corridor in Arizona and furthering economic development in Flagstaff. Construction of the new facility is expected to begin shortly and TGen North is scheduled to be operational in the fall of 2006.