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Strategic Research Groups Investments (SRG)

The Strategic Research Groups Investments seed strategic collaborations between Arizona’s research institutions and industry partners to create economic advantages for the state in the strategic areas of  Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Sustainable Systems (SUS) and Biosciences (BIO). >>

These investments anchor industry R&D, create commercial products, and increase the probability of attracting major federal research funding and large group grants.  Industry partners are required to match the SFAz investments dollar-for-dollar.   

- These SRG investments create a competitive advantage for Arizona by creating access to “brainware” and enhancing technology transfer.  The program’s goal is to anchor major industry to the state and position Arizona to attract major federal research center funding and larger group grants. ::

- Below are just a sampling of some of the successes achieved in SGR Grants administered.

 -  SRG Questions and Answers follow below.

“Cyanobacteria for Generating Solar-Powered, Carbon Neutral, and Cost-Effective Biodiesel.”  Read More >>> Dr. Bruce Rittmann, ASU/Industry Partners: British Petroleum, Arizona Public Service This strategic investment spearheads a two-year initiative partnering the Biodesign Institute, BP, and APS to develop a new form of biofuel.  This renewable energy technology holds significant promise as use of photosynthetic bacteria in the production of biofuel eliminates the need for costly and complex processing, and allows for the efficient use of land unsuitable for agriculture.  This lack of competition with food production, along with the higher yield per acre, gives the bacteria-based system the potential to begin replacing fossil fuels. Phase-I of the project, a risk-reduction, proof-of-concept effort, has the primary goal of demonstrating key technological capability in the design and deployment of a rooftop pilot scale photo-bioreactor and demonstration of cost-effective scale-up potential.  Successful completion of this phase will demonstrate ASU’s capabilities in developing a platform for the production of cyanobacterial biomass for biofuel production, making ASU more competitive for major external funding from government and commercial sources. Monies Leveraged: $2.5 million industry match (BP); if the initial 2-year project is successful, the second phase will commence with an anticipated outside capital investments. Collaborations: British Petroleum (BP), Arizona Public Service (APS), and Engineering Firm, CH2MHill Patents: Disclosures expected early in year 2 for Photo-bioreactors.

“Diagnostics for Targeted Therapy/Development of U.S. Diagnostics Standards National Laboratory”                                                                                                                                                                Dr. Jeffrey Cossman, Critical Path Institute (C-Path)/ Industry Partner:  Ventana Medical Systems/Roche The SFAz investment responds to the US government’s mandate for a new model for development of diagnostics and targeted therapy in cancer.  C-Path, located in Tucson, has been asked by federal authorities to establish standards for assay validation, design and coordinate the model study.   Working with Tucson-based Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. a world leader in commercialized tissue cancer diagnostics, C-Path is working to establish the national molecular diagnostic model using lung cancer as the prototype.   The project provides the basis for: 1) a Center grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for coordinating the ultimate lung cancer trial, 2) future formation of a federal diagnostics standards laboratory in Arizona and 3) substantial strengthening of Ventana’s submission for FDA approval of their newest cancer tests.   First-year progress for the project has exceeded projections.  This is a consequence of the strong, positive response the proposed United States Diagnostics Standards (USDS) concept has received from industry and government. The SFAz investment has the potential to originate a national laboratory in Arizona that promises to standardize laboratory diagnostic medicine. Monies Leveraged: $3 million industry match (Ventana Medical Systems/Roche); Currently seeking $2.5 million in Congressional Support for the establishment of the USDS; also seeking support from Venture Capital and industry sources Collaborations: FDA, NIH, The United States Pharmacopeia (standards-setting body), Marshfield Clinic, The Personalized Medicine Coalition, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, Department of Veterans’s Affairs, Roche, Novartis, Abbott, Genentech.

“The Sustainability of Innovative Manufacturing for Arizona: Low-Water and Low-Energy Nano-Manufacturing Processes.”                                                                                                              Dr. Anthony Muscat, UofA / Industry Partners ASM America, SEZ, SRC, Intel.   Read More >>> The aim of this project is to reduce the water, energy, and materials necessary to build state of the art electronic and optical devices, enabling Arizona to maintain a leadership role in high volume nano-manufacturing. Background/Progress: The UofA research team and industry partners are conducting applied research to explore harnessing biological molecules to build nano-scale structures for semiconductors.  Their research is beyond the technology roadmap of most companies, which could produce a paradigm shift in the way that devices are fabricated.  Biological molecules operate efficiently with high selectively under mild pressure and temperature conditions; exploiting these molecules for nano-manufacturing yields both environmental and technological performance gains. The research may soon lead to breakthroughs in reducing the production costs for the world’s next generation of semiconductor products and translate into large-scale commercial opportunities. Monies Leveraged: $802,000 in matching support from industry partners.  Additionally, the group has applied for $18.4 million in NSF funding with $200,000 in proposals pending.

“Chemical Genomics & Translational Research Center: A Strategic Research Group.” Dr. David Galbraith, UofA / High Throughput Genomics (HTG).  Read More >>> The goal of this project is to 1) develop and validate a high-density array platform using gene expression technology; 2) to put technology in place necessary to produce archives of reagents for the micro plate assay; 3) to establish and validate the software required to design large sets of probes; and 4) to establish the automation required for high throughput assay and screening.  Virtually every disease begins with malfunctioning gene expression.  Distinctive gene signatures explain why some people are more vulnerable to developing cancer than others are and why patients who have cancer respond differently to treatments.  Uses for gene signature research can range from the fight against cancer, to the creation of disease-preventing agrochemicals for crops. Monies Leveraged: Industry Partner Match $.  The venture capital arm of Merck Co. invested $10 million in HTG.  The researchers on the project credit platform concepts funded by SFAz as critical to Merck making their lead investment in HTG.  Use of these new platforms became the basis for bringing in their venture capital arm and the justification for Merck’s investment.  In addition requested Federal and Foundation funding of $2.3 million, decision pending. Collaborations: Sandler Foundation, Cancer Centers including the National Cancer Institute

“Expression Project for Oncology Continuation Project: expO Completion.”                                                                             Dr. Robert Penny, International Genomics Consortium (IGC) / Industry Partner: AmeriPath, Inc.   Read More >>> The goal of this project is to revolutionize treatment and prevention of cancer and complex diseases by developing and applying post-genome science to advances in human health.  Since the human genome has been successfully mapped, scientists are learning how these genes function in various diseases by studying normal and diseased tissue samples.  The International Genomics Consortium‘s Expression Project for Oncology (expO) is building a biorepository of cancer and normal tissue samples with ongoing clinical information and gene expression data that is available to doctors and scientists.  This helps researchers develop diagnostic tests and therapies that allow physicians to better determine the molecular nature of each patient's cancer and tailor therapies to the individual. Monies Leveraged: Industry Partner Match $.  SFAz monies have enabled IGC to pursue new initiatives to include being selected as the Biospecimen Core Resource for the Cancer Genome Atlas Project, a 3-year, $100 million project sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.  IGC’s creation of best practices in BioBanking has attracted additional government interest to increase resource needs and implement a duplicate model for data collection.  Success of this federal partnership will likely leverage more funding. Collaborations/Publications: Cancer Genome Atlas Project, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, TGen, Caris Diagnostics

SFAz SRG Innovation Investment Awards  -  List

The additional listing of SRG Investment Awards is as follows:   Principal Investigator First & Last Name / University or Institution/ Purpose-Driven Research Title / Amount of Initial SFAz investment/ Area of Concentration (ICT, SUS, or Bio - see above explanations), Industry Partner/Industry Matching Investments, Other Outside Capital Obtained.

 Q:  What is the Strategic Research Group Program?  

 A: It is a program to facilitate the collaboration of RPI and industry. We intend 
 to build and attract new industry to Arizona and strengthen existing research
 programs within AZ and create economic and research advantages for Arizona.

Q:  Can I apply to the SRG program? 

 A: You can submit a pre-proposal that will be reviewed and SFAz will invite  those qualified for submission of full proposal.

Q:  What is the SRG open-call program?

 A:  The open-call is for the extraordinary opportunities with time sensitive urgent need. Same guidelines apply, but it must clearly state the urgency of submitting prior to the deadline.

Q:  How soon will I hear back regarding my pre-proposal?

 A:  We will work hard to return a response to you within two weeks of  submission; sometimes the review process may take longer which can delay our  response.

Q:  How will my pre-proposal and proposal be reviewed?
 A: Our standing Advisory board will review the pre-proposal and once a full  proposal is submitted a series of reviews will take place.  First is a postal review  by experts outside of Arizona, and from there the series of reviews depends on
 the proposal itself.

Q:  What type of company can I select for my industry partner?

 A: The leading industry partner needs to have >100 employees and be willing to  cover 50% of the 1:1 required match.  As long as there is a strong working  relationship between you and the Industry, you can use anyone for your 
 additional  partner including industry, DOD, national labs and private
 organizations.

Q: Can universities or research performing institutions (RFI's) establish relationships for matching funding with industry partners located outside of Arizona? 

A: Yes, the industry partner must provide a 1:1 cash match and be engaged in research.  If the research investment is successful, SFAz will want to understand if the company has a plan to initiate an R&D center or other type of operation in Arizona and in what time frame.

Q:  Are there specific areas in which this program will be focused?

 A: Yes, they are solar energy, sustainable living environments, robotics,  molecular electronics and sensors, nanomedicine, aerospace and defense,  nanophotonics and bioimaging, computational medicine and advances computing.