News

In this report, we show how leveraging the UA’s emerging excellence in technology transfer, commercial feasibility studies, corporate relations, and tech parks has produced an ecosystem that encourages partnerships across industries and communities, propels cycles of innovation, and actively supports entrepreneurs as they bring new products to market.

Over the past two years, a number of changes have occurred both inside TLA and within the greater University community that effect the University innovation ecosystem. With help and input from across the TLA organization, we have re-structured over the summer of 2015. Come and re-meet us.

Codelucida, co-founded by a UA doctoral student and his advisors in Electrical and Computer Engineering, is developing a disruptive error-correction technology for next-generation solid-state drives (SSD). The two-year grant is non-dilutive federal funding meant to further assist the company in its commercialization efforts.

Online employee fraud costs businesses across the globe $3.5 trillion annually. For governments, detecting digital deception is not only a matter of efficiency, but of national security. In response, a UA Eller College of Management professor has worked with TLA to patent a new software and is commercializing it via a startup company, Neuro-ID.

In completing its second full year of operations, Tech Launch Arizona reports that as of the fiscal year’s June 30 close, it has achieved all of its performance metrics defined by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). In support of the UA Never Settle strategic plan, these metrics not only represent increases over theprevious year, but also all-time highs for Arizona’s 21st century land-grant university.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (CBC) at the UA College of Science has long been a powerhouse in research. Having built a close partnership with Tech Launch Arizona (TLA), it is now the University’s leading producer of intellectual property.

The University is among a select group of 18 institutions to be recognized by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). The designation acknowledges those working in their states and regions to support economic development through a variety of activities.

University of Arizona startup company Synactix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has licensed a novel cancer treatment technology developed through research at the UA College of Pharmacy. The technology zeroes in on a dual kinase inhibitor that blocks two factors involved in cancer survival: oncogene addiction and vascular growth.

UA startup SinfoníaRx and Walmart have announced a new partnership on medication management to bring the solution first developed at the UA College of Pharmacy to the retail giant's operations.

Grafted Growers, which had its start in the UA's McGuire Program for Entrepreneurship, has been recognized for its use of innovative methods and equipment for planting, growing and harvesting food crops.

On April 30, TLA held its second annual awards event to honor those whose work directly affects the quality of life for people in Tucson, across Arizona and throughout the world through research, collaboration and innovation -- key elements in the University’s land-grant mission and Never Settle strategic plan.

Campylobacter jejuni infection causes 1.3 million illnesses and generates over $1B in healthcare costs in the U.S. each year. Tucson company Anivax has now licensed a revolutionary Campylobacter food safety vaccine collaboratively developed at the UA and ASU to address the problem.