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Four teams of researchers and clinicians across the University of Arizona and Banner Health have been selected to receive up to $250,000 each to advance promising health discoveries toward clinical use and improved patient care. 

The teams were selected through the inaugural Big Idea Challenge: U of A and Banner Health Joint Translational Research Accelerator, a collaboration designed to support research with the potential to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of major diseases.  

The accelerator builds on the University of Arizona’s original Big Idea Challenge, launched in 2025 to support transdisciplinary research addressing complex global challenges, by extending that model to pair the organizations’ strengths and accelerate discoveries toward patient care.

The winners were chosen following a competitive call that drew 53 proposals. Submissions represented a range of career stages, from undergraduate researchers to senior faculty and practicing clinicians, and disciplines spanning medicine, pharmacy, engineering, business, the sciences and optical sciences.  

The Arizona Molecular Clinical Core was part of the team selected for their proposal to develop "DZsig," a rapid digital gene expression profiling test to accurately diagnose aggressive "Dark Zone" B-cell lymphomas. The project addresses the lack of commercial diagnostic tests for these lymphomas, which are currently missed by standard techniques. With accelerator funding, the team aims to complete CAP/CLIA clinical validation of the DZsig gene expression test and deploy it across the Banner Health system.  

More on this story: https://research.arizona.edu/news/four-u-banner-health-teams-earn-funding-advance-patient-care-through-big-idea-challenge-joint

Credit: This story is excerpted from the URL above. It was written by Erika Mitnik. Not sure who to credit for the photo.

The ORP CFPP is designed to support three key types of activity within the ORP-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of ORP-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals*. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application.  A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

For additional information and to apply, see Arizona Cultivate.

The ORP Core Facility Pilot Program (CFPP) is designed to support three key types of activity within the ORP-managed core facilities (list of eligible cores). Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of ORP-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application.  A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

For additional information and to apply, see Arizona Cultivate.

The ORP Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the ORP-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of ORP-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

For additional information and to apply, see Arizona Cultivate.

BIO5 is partnering with the Office of Research and Partnerships Core Facilities to offer 4 tours during Arizona Tech Week. Details for each tour are listed below.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | 10 - 11 a.m.

• Genetics, Genomics & Drug Discovery
• Digital Health Technology & Sensors

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

• Mass Spectrometry & Molecular Clinical Core
• State-of-the-Art Bioimaging

Reservations are limited. If a tour is sold out please email BIO5-events@arizona.edu to be added to a waiting list. If you are unable to attend a tour you have signed up for, please email BIO5-events@arizona.edu to cancel.

BRUKER SPATIAL BIOLOGY | LUNCH & LEARN

Integrated Multiomics with Bruker — From Bulk Gene Expression to Spatial Multiomic Insights

In Collaboration with the University of Arizona Molecular Clinical Core 

Thursday, April 9^th 12:30–2:00 PM MST

University of Arizona Medical Research Building Room 102

REGISTER HERE: Lunch & Learn | University of Arizona

Please Join Us

Join us for an engaging seminar spotlighting the nCounter® Analysis System and its newly expanded bulk Multiomic capabilities. Learn how researchers can now measure RNA and protein from the same sample to gain deeper biological insight. The session will also feature an overview of Bruker Spatial Biology’s spatial portfolio, highlighting how these technologies are used, what they enable, and recent advances across the lineup. Guest speaker presentations will wrap up the session, followed by Q&A. Complimentary lunch and deserts will be provided! 

The University of Arizona scientific community is invited to join us for a lunchtime session featuring a focused deep dive into our suite of bulk and spatial multiomic technologies. During this session, we’ll provide high-level overviews of the platforms, alongside guest speaker presentations showcasing how researchers are applying these tools in their own studies. We’ll also share how to access these technologies on campus for your own work, including the recently installed nCounter PRO System, along with updates across the portfolio that expand capabilities and support deeper biological insights.

Technologies at a Glance

• Get results in under 24 hours with just 15 minutes of hands-on time—multiplex up to 800 targets using the nCounter® Analysis System's direct detection technology. Now, the platform is evolving beyond bulk gene expression with new bulk multiomics capabilities, enabling RNA and protein analysis from the same FFPE sample.
• The GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler is the only spatial biology platform that non-destructively profiles expression of the whole transcriptome and 1,200+ proteins from a single FFPE or fresh frozen tissue section.
• The CosMx® Spatial Molecular Imager is the only single-cell spatial platform that enables whole transcriptome RNA analysis paired with high-plex protein detection—up to 76 proteins). From cell atlasing to signaling pathway analysis, gain deep biological context and subcellular resolution—all from one experiment.
• CellScape™ Precise Spatial Proteomics offers end-to-end multiplexed spatial proteomics and single-cell analysis with advanced imaging, automated fluidics, and flexible assay design for any species to accelerate research from discovery to translation.

Agenda Overview

The ORP Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the ORP-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of ORP-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

For additional information and to apply, see Arizona Cultivate.

The ORP Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the ORP-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of ORP-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

For additional information and to apply, see Arizona Cultivate.

The ORP Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the ORP-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of ORP-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

For additional information and to apply, see Arizona Cultivate.

Description: The RII Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the RII-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of RII-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

Due date: May 7, 2025 at 5pm
To apply, see Arizona Cultivate