State assembling final proposal for biomedical consortium; decision expected soon

PHOENIX - While Arizona could find out in as soon as two weeks if it will become a bio-industry leader, the state only has half the funds needed to build a cancer research center.

Last week, a report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers found that the state needs $120 million to secure the International Genomics Consortium for cancer research - up from the original estimate of $50 million.

"When we started this project, we had no comparison. But we knew that $50 million would be involved," said Jami McFerren Beams, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Department of Commerce.

Arizona has been vying with several other states, including Georgia and Maryland, to land the consortium.

That competition is expected to end soon, now that the state is about to assemble a proposal for the consortium, Beams said.

She said the state will likely get a final decision as to whether it was selected by the consortium soon after submitting the proposal

The consortium is a non-profit, biomedical organization that is a joint effort among Arizona's three state universities.

State and university officials have hoped that landing the center would improve the universities' prestige.

The center's addition would allow the universities to be more forward-thinking in drug research, UA lobbyist Greg Fahey said last week.

But landing the genomics consortium and creating a biotechnology institute to accompany it will still require a significant amount of funding - from donors yet to be identified.

"At this stage of the game, we have about half of that $120 million," Beams said. "Now it's just a game of trying to get that number lower."

She said the following contributions have been made: $30 million from the state, $10 million from the Flinn Foundation, $15 million from the City of Phoenix, $10 million from the three state universities and $10 million from the federal government.

"We also have conversations going with other foundations, hospitals and counties, which may contribute," Beams said.

State officials said as time looms near for the National Institute of Health to choose which state will house the biotechnology center, Arizona has odds in its favor.

"Arizona is certainly in a good position," said Francie Noyes, spokeswoman for Gov. Jane Dee Hull. "The folks from the institute have been here, and they like the state. There has also been a high degree of cooperation amongst the universities and business sector, and that's what these folks are looking at."

Beams said even though the Department of Commerce is still trying to raise funds, Arizona will not lose the deal if they do not have $120 million in hand.

"No one has to write a $120 million check today in order for us to land the consortium," Beams said. "That number is based on building from ground zero, as if we had nothing. The total includes everything we need - people, buildings, land and equipment. But we have contributions to play into that total figure. And the amount will be spread over five years to operate the center."