About

Overview

The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University spurs scientific breakthroughs that improve health, protect lives and sustain our planet.

Our research is aimed at:

  • Predicting, preventing and detecting the onset of disease
  • Developing renewable energy and reducing environmental damage
  • Developing innovations that safeguard our nation and the world

 

Strength in Numbers

At the Biodesign Institute, we assemble large, scientifically diverse teams to galvanize great ideas into real-world solutions. We fuse the talents of nearly 700 faculty, staff, students and collaborators whose expertise spans engineering, the biosciences, medicine, computing, economics, public policy and management. This allows us to consider the scalability, affordability and societal implications of the solutions we pursue.

Natural Connections

All living systems, simple or complex, are constructed from the same molecular building blocks arranged in infinite variations. By understanding the design principles governing nature, we can tackle many different problems and apply success in one effort to others. Knowledge we use to optimize vaccines, for example, is helping us develop renewable energy. Systems to rapidly identify new pathogens in a pandemic can also be used against bioterrorism. We’re even using pioneering methods we developed for water purification to address the obesity epidemic.;

Your Health

The best way to reduce health care costs is to prevent disease or minimize the need for treatment. We focus on developing safe, effective vaccines and inventing systems that predict or detect diseases at their earliest stage. This approach provides sustainable solutions that improve patient outcomes while reducing costs. 

Diseases we’re addressing include:

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Arthritis & inflammatory diseases
  • Cancer, including lung, breast, esophogeal, & pancreatic 
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Diabetes (Types 1 & 2)
  • Diarrheal diseases
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Influenza
  • Leukemia/Lymphoma
  • Malaria
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Obesity
  • Pneumonia
  • Tuberculosis
  • West Nile virus

 

Our Planet

We are repairing existing damage to our planet and are working to prevent further destruction. Projects include:

  • Creating a replacement for fossil fuels using photosynthetic bacteria
  • Cleaning harmful chemicals from drinking water
  • Developing new types of fuel cells, including systems to generate energy from waste
  • Designing systems to detect and monitor environmental contamination
  • Inventing more efficient solar and hydrogen technologies

 

A Safer World

Revolutionary thinking is needed to protect against new types of threats to our national security and to protect lives worldwide. Our discoveries are enabling better ways to identify threats, avoid problems or quickly respond in difficult situations. Examples include:

  • Systems to more rapidly develop vaccines
  • Devices to quickly measure an individual’s level of exposure to radiation in the event of a nuclear accident or terrorist attack
  • Technology to instantly and remotely detect the presence of biological hazards
  • Antidotes to toxic substances that are likely to be used in bioterrorism

 

The Next Pioneers

Our results-driven approach makes it possible for students to have a real impact on the world. We help launch the careers of postdoctoral researchers, and we provide rigorous training for graduate students, research experiences for undergraduates, and laboratory internships for high school students. At any given time, more than 200 students are engaged in our labs, contributing to discovery and innovation.  

 

A Facility Built for Speed

The Biodesign Institute’s 350,000 sq. ft. facility is designed to promote interaction and agility. Lab areas flow together with large windows onto a central atrium, allowing high visibility throughout the building. An architectural landmark with more than 20 awards, the facility was named 2006 Laboratory of the Year by R&D Magazine and became Arizona’s first building to earn platinum-level LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

 

Accelerating Innovation and Discovery

During the past two years, the Biodesign Institute has filed 160 patents and has been awarded more than $100 million in research funding from government, nonprofit and industry sources. We provide more than 500 jobs and train students for high-demand careers.

Many of our discoveries have been supported by a voter-approved sales tax. For every dollar of this support, we currently generate more than $4.50 in new funding.

To accelerate commercial translation of research breakthroughs, we have created the Biodesign Impact Accelerator. This first-of-its-kind approach bridges critical gaps that often impede the progress of valuable innovations. It nurtures technologies through key stages of development and moves them into the private sector once they are viable.