Tgen

In 2002, an assembly of more than 50 leaders and visionaries gathered at the Arizona state capitol to discuss genomics and the possibility of establishing a facility in the new economy of the biotechnology industry. Less than a year after the initial gathering in the governor's office, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) was operational, and Arizona's place in genomics history became a reality. The vision of the Translational Genomics Research Institute is a world where genomic discoveries can be rapidly translated to the diagnosis and treatment of disease in a manner tailored to the individual. The newly completed sequence of the human genome is a profound accomplishment for mankind; for the first time in history we now have the knowledge to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. The increased understanding of molecular medicine will shift clinical practice from treatment based on symptoms to treatment based on the underlying causes of disease. Physicians will be prescribing drugs that are designed more intelligently, work more effectively and have fewer toxic side effects.