SiO2 Innovates

With Flinn Foundation – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

Arizona received nearly $400M in National Institutes of Health funding last year, increasing its annual amount by nearly 15% since 2022 to another record high.

Also impressive is Arizona’s share of national funding in 2025 surpassed its longtime 1% target, finishing at 1.08% of the nation’s funding. That's 24th among all states. ⬇️

FAFSA UPDATES- Here is what you need to know right now

The Department of Education is finalizing FAFSA processing for the 2026-2027 academic year. Your financial aid will be ready before payment deadlines. Enroll now to stay on track for fall 2026.

Seven Arizona research teams have each been awarded $100K grants from the Flinn Foundation to advance medical research into Valley fever, epilepsy, brain cancer, cleft conditions, and more.

Congratulations to teams led by Arizona State University, HonorHealth Research Institute, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Northern Arizona University, TGen North and University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix .

“This Flinn program is awarding grants to projects ... with the technical and commercial potential to have a positive impact on patients." — Mary O'Reilly, PhD., Flinn Foundation vice president, bioscience research programs.

Accelerating research into impact is one of five goals in Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap.

More details. Link in comments.

🚀 Ready to Win Bigger Contracts?

Join us at AZBizCon for this powerful breakout session with Cristian Lopez of Next Street, where you’ll learn what it really takes to become contract-ready in today’s booming semiconductor industry.

Discover how small and mid-sized Arizona businesses can tap into new opportunities, strengthen supplier readiness, and build the capabilities needed to compete—and win.

🕑 Don’t miss this session from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
👉 Save your spot: https://www.asba.com/azbizcon/

Happiness is Busily Working Summer 2023 Research Interns at SiO2 Innovates, SiO2 Innovatesin Business Partnership Infinitum BioMed with UV ONE Hygienics UV ONE Hygienics, on the Desert Banner Hospital Campus

As COVID-19 cases rise, please help keep ERs open for emergencies

ERs are for emergenciesWith the Omicron variant spreading rapidly, Arizona has seen more COVID-19 cases in the past week than any other week of the pandemic. Alongside this increase, we’ve seen more people seeking care in hospital emergency rooms and more people seeking COVID-19 testing.

Both of these are challenging in their own right. But one avoidable problem is occurring: Hospitals report that people with no symptoms or mild symptoms are seeking COVID-19 tests at emergency rooms instead of designated testing sites. This is making it more difficult to care for people facing medical emergencies.

Arizona’s hospitals are already strained caring for both COVID-19 patients, the vast majority of whom aren’t vaccinated, and others who need medical attention. With emergency rooms on the front lines of the COVID-19 response, we need everyone to help make sure ERs are reserved for immediate medical needs.

Alternatives to the ER for those not experiencing a medical emergency include your primary care physician, a local community health clinic, urgent care centers, or telehealth services available through many insurance companies.

Of course, if you have a medical emergency, or are experiencing symptoms like trouble breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, altered mental state, or signs of a stroke or heart attack, don’t hesitate to go to an emergency room to get the attention you need.

Here are some testing options, most of them free:

Our website has a map showing hundreds of testing locations across the state.
In the Phoenix area, ASU, the city of Phoenix, and Maricopa County have testing locations.
Pharmacies including CVS and Walgreens offer testing.
Home tests can be purchased in stores and online.
If your health concern is less urgent or involves COVID-19 testing, please take advantage of these alternatives to ensure doctors and nurses in hospital emergency rooms are ready to provide care for those in urgent need of it.

As COVID-19 cases rise, please help keep ERs open for emergencies With the Omicron variant spreading rapidly, Arizona has seen more COVID-19 cases in the past week than any other week of the pandemic. Alongside this increase, we’ve seen more people seeking care in hospital emergency rooms and more people seeking COVID-19 testing.

A metal made from the second-most abundant element on Earth has become scarce, threatening everything from car parts to computer chips and throwing up another hurdle for the world economy.

The shortage in silicon metal, sparked by a production cut in China, has sent prices up 300% in less than two months. It’s the latest in a litany of disruptions, from snarled supply chains to a power crunch, that are creating a destructive mix for companies and consumers.

The worsening situation has forced some companies to declare force majeure. On Friday, Norwegian chemicals manufacturer Elkem ASA said it and several other companies making silicone-based products suspended some sales due to to the shortage.

Silicon’s 300% Surge Throws Another Price Shock at the World A metal made from the second-most abundant element on Earth has become scarce, threatening everything from car parts to computer chips and throwing up another hurdle for the world economy.

Building on nearly two decades of unparalleled advancement, Arizona State University moved up to sixth out of 759 universities in the nation for total research expenditures among universities without a medical school, according to the latest National Science Foundation (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) rankings.

With a total of $639.6 million in expenditures in fiscal year 2019, an increase of nearly $22 million from the previous year, ASU research has continued an upward trend and is among the leaders in research. At No. 6, ASU ranks alongside MIT, University of California-Berkeley, Georgia Tech and Purdue University and ahead of Carnegie Mellon University, Princeton and the University of Georgia. Since 2002, ASU research expenditures have grown more than fivefold, going from $123 million to nearly $640 million today.

In the most recent HERD rankings, ASU placed No. 26 overall among public institutions (of 405 total) in research expenditures, putting it alongside the University of Texas-Austin, Purdue University, Michigan State University and the University of Arizona and ahead of the University of Virginia, University of Alabama, University of Iowa and North Carolina State University.

ASU ranked No. 43 for all universities nationwide (of 916 total) with or without a medical school in FY19, placing it alongside the University of Illinois, the University of Texas-Austin, Purdue University, Michigan State University and ahead of the University of Chicago, California Institute of Technology and Princeton University.

Federal agencies, led by NASA and including NSF, Health and Human Services, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense have invested substantial research dollars in ASU, along with investment from businesses, nonprofits and philanthropic sources, as well as state and local grants.

Each year through the HERD survey, the NSF updates its list of where the money for research is going. It’s a way to look under the hood of the machinery of a university to see how well the engines that power research are running. ASU’s rise in the HERD survey underscores its strength in research funding — and the confidence that major agencies and others have in ASU research.

“Research is a critical component of how we address the grand challenges we are collectively facing in today’s world,” said Sally C. Morton, executive vice president of ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise. “We must encourage, support and rely on solid scientific insights to help us persevere.

“I am confident we have the capabilities to discover impactful solutions to pandemics, climate change, cybersecurity and emerging health issues — all of which will challenge humankind well into the future. Through the transdisciplinary approach of talented ASU faculty and researchers, we are well-positioned to take on these challenges and work together to create a better future.”

ASU climbs to sixth in national research rankings Building on nearly two decades of unparalleled advancement, ASU moved up to sixth out of 759 universities in the nation for total research expenditures among universities without a medical school, according to the latest National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development rankings.

Economic Impact Payments on their way, visit IRS.gov instead of calling | Internal Revenue Service IR-2021-01, January 4, 2021— The Internal Revenue Service today urged people to visit IRS.gov for the most current information on the second round of Economic Impact Payments rather than calling the agency or their financial institutions or tax software providers.