Proposed improvements to life sciences research at the UA will hopefully bring high-paying biotechnology companies to Tucson, UA life sciences faculty members said yesterday.

These companies would potentially create jobs and improve the economy, the faculty members said.

The 50 researchers, professors, and various life science board members gathered in the Integrated Learning Center to discuss the UA's role in a proposed plan aimed at strengthening biomedical institutions statewide.

The plan, called a roadmap, outlines progress to be made over 5- and 10-year increments at a cost of more than $1 billion.

The roadmap, proposed by the philanthropic Flinn Foundation in connection with Battelle, an independent nonprofit research company, was proposed as a means of strengthening bioscience departments in Arizona's three universities and other biomedical institutions in the state.

UA's bioscience strengths, determined in 2002 by Battelle, include cancer and infectious disease research and bioengineering. The report encouraged the UA to develop its research in those areas before branching out to broader bioscience fields.

The plan will fortify the already strong in-state science institutions and will serve as a means of strengthening the economy, said Stuart Williams, chair of biomedical engineering for Arizona Research Labs. The improvements may also provide a better education to students and ensure that Arizona university graduates have jobs available.

According to a presentation at the forum, the Arizona economy will benefit from a return of $6 for every $1 invested in the project.

While the Flinn roadmap is to be used as a guide for institutions statewide, attendees of yesterday's meeting focused on creating a separate but similar map specifically suited for the UA.

Members of the UA community will meet early next year to decide how funds will be used to implement "places, people, and things" needed to turn the UA into a bioscience leader.

"The UA needs to be a key part of (the Flinn) plan," said Richard C. Powell, vice president for research and graduate studies.

Powell said the Flinn foundation and the Arizona Disease Control Center will contribute a portion of the funds needed statewide while the UA will also allocate some money for projects on campus.

He noted that Flinn will send a committee to petition the state legislature to apportion funds to the projects, but added that some of these funds might not be used to benefit the UA directly.

"This plan involves a lot more than universities. This plan involves things that have nothing directly to do with the university," he said.

Powell said funds not allocated to state universities will be used to build lab space and other facilities needed to draw top researchers to Arizona.

During the meeting, faculty members expressed concern about certain aspects of the UA and Flinn plans and asked when the project would begin.

Powell and other board members assured those present that both proposals are in the earliest stages of development and that input from all faculty members are welcome and encouraged.

While the aching economy is rebounding, it still faces a high unemployment rate, Powell said.

He noted that the roadmap will bring more jobs to Tucson and the state and potentially encourage students to enter the bioscience field.

"If you look at where the jobs are, we have strong need for more students in the biotech area," he said.

The recent groundbreaking of three new science buildings mark the beginning of the changes to come, he said.

Powell said that a consortium will meet in January to determine important deadlines for the UA projects in conjunction with the Flinn plan.

With the huge amount of change coming to bioscience at the UA, Powell said there is a great deal of innovation to look forward to.

"I'm very excited about the whole thing," he said.