Vicki Chandler, director of the UA's BIO5 Institute, was named Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year for her work to expand Arizona's national and international influence in the biosciences.
GLENDALE, Ariz. - The University of Arizona dominated the annual Governor's Celebration of Innovation Awards gala, where innovator of the year awards were given to a UA freshman, a Regents' Professor, a mission to Mars, and a biotech startup company incubated at the UA.
Vicki Chandler, director of the UA's BIO5 Institute, was named Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year for her work to expand Arizona's national and international influence in the biosciences.
Chandler, also a Regents' Professor of plant sciences and molecular and cellular biology, occupies the Carl E. and Patricia Weiler Endowed Chair for Excellence in the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The UA-led Phoenix Mars Mission, which is the world's first mission to Mars led by a public university, was named Academic Innovator of the Year.
The other finalists were the UA's BIO5 Institute and Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute.
Niles Frazier, a UA freshman majoring in molecular and cellular biology, was one of four students statewide to be named Young Innovator of the Year.
Frazier, a 2007 graduate of Tucson High School, was recognized for his research on RNA interference - the molecule is similar to DNA - and its capacity to help fight disease. He was the only Arizona university student to win a 2007 young innovator award.
Also, MSDx LLC, a startup company incubated at the UA's Arizona Center for Innovation, was named Start-up Innovator of the Year. MSDx began operations in 2006 with the mission of improving the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis with a quick, accurate and cost-effective blood test.
"The UA is proud to make Tucson the innovation capital of Arizona," said Leslie P. Tolbert, UA vice president for research, graduate studies and economic development. "We are very pleased to know that across all levels of our work - from the undergraduate experience, to research, to economic development - our excellence has been recognized and rewarded."
Each year the Governor's innovation awards are presented by The Arizona Technology Council, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Commerce.
Award recipients are chosen for their contribution to the business and technology community and their technological innovation. The 2007 awards were presented at a gala in the University of Phoenix Stadium.