Arizona's most famous rivals may be joining forces to form a new center for health education in Phoenix.

ASU and UA, in partnership with NAU, are working to form the plans for a heath care education center in Phoenix. The purpose of the project is to expand the existing medical program at UA, rather than to start another medical program in the state to compete with Tucson's.

The facility, which is still in the planning stages, will be located near the genomics research facility, which recently made a home in Phoenix.

What exactly the students at the health care education center will study has yet to be decided, said Dr. Ray Woosley, vice president for health sciences.

There will be courses in biomedical research and technology, but no other definite plans have been made.

UA's clinical research program ÷ now operating out of Phoenix ÷ will collaborate with an NAU health program and a biomedical research program being formed at ASU. Plans include a $70 million biodesign center at ASU's main campus in Tempe.

The first two years of a medical student's basic instruction would be at UA. Third and fourth year med students will have the option of completing research and training either in Tucson or at the new facility in Phoenix.

"One-third of our students already have rotations in Phoenix. There is a greater capacity for health care there," Woosley said.

The collaboration among the three universities would provide students with a new form of instruction and learning environment that would keep them constantly updated in the perpetually changing medical field, Woosley said.

"Our main objective is to have one great program, rather than two mediocre programs," said Jack Jewett, president of the Arizona Board of Regents.

Costs and construction plans for the project have not been determined, although UA does lease space in downtown Phoenix for the UA Health Sciences Center Phoenix Campus.

Over 400 physician volunteers are currently training nursing, public health and pharmacy students at the facility in Phoenix.

"It will lead to a lot of great breakthroughs and developments. It's what makes UA unique," said Vanessa Nielsen, pre-nursing sophomore.

The idea for the project spawned from discussions among the presidents of the three universities and Jeff Trent, a UA graduate and scientific director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, at a retreat a few weeks ago, Woosley said.

The regents support the idea, but now must find a means of funding and support for the project.

"Any project of this size and scope will require multiple funding sources, whether that be the state or philanthropies," Jewett said.

About 9 percent of UA's state funding for health care was taken away this year, in addition to $1 million that had been allotted to the programs in Phoenix.

Although the plans for the project are not definite, construction will not begin until the $60 million Institute for Biomedical Science and Biotechnology near the UA health sciences center is completed.

Planners project that construction on the biomedical center will begin mid-2003.