University of Arizona partnership gets $43.6 million for clinical science and research hub

The University of Arizona in partnership with the University of New Mexico has secured a $43.6 million federal grant to fund a clinical science and research hub.

The hub will focus on improving local patient health, and training the next generation of scientists and staff.

The grant from the National Institutes of Health will be used over the next seven years to support a range of research programs under the new Southwest Center for Advancing Clinical and Translational Innovation, or SW CACTI.

Sally Radovick, with the University of Arizona, leads SW CACTI.

"I think our first demonstration project will attack the opioid epidemic," Radovick said. "But there will be continued development of such programs, so that should be the first output. But in parallel we will be training a workforce, for example, engaging the community."

The NIH has been facing funding cuts and claw backs this past year. Radovick says they have the government’s notice of award, and feel comfortable moving forward with the grant.

“Once you get that notice of grant award and you have the dollars allotted to your institution for funding of that grant, there’s almost no way to not proceed," Radovick said.

She says the center is a part of a national collaborative.

“There are currently 61 hubs in 42 states that are focused on bringing more treatments to patients quickly by advancing clinical and translational science," Radovick said.

Up until this point, Arizona didn’t have one.

"I believe that because we have now secured SW CACTI, we will see an improvement in the health and well-being of our citizens within the next years," Radovick said.

Separately, the White House is asking nine universities — including UA — to commit to President Donald Trump’s political priorities in exchange for preferential access to federal grants. It’s unclear why UA and the other eight schools were singled out.