The Rotary Club of Scottsdale hosted Dean Ballard, TGen Foundation’s director of development, to discuss the specifics of the Scottsdale-based company.

During his introduction of the program, Rotarian John Abbs shared Mr. Ballard’s bio as a senior professional fundraiser, with over 18 years of experience conceptualizing, designing, and implementing creative development strategies, according to a press release.

Mr. Ballard specializes in creating and building interest-specific programs, including the Waylon Jennings Diabetes Research Fund, the TGen Ambassadors program and the Annual Fund for the TGen Foundation.

Mr. Ballard said native Phoenician Dr. Jeffery Trent, FACMG, originated the concept for TGen.

Dr. Trent is an internationally recognized scientist, who envisioned an institute where many of the world’s leading scientists would turn breakthroughs in genetic research into medical advances benefiting patients and their families.

Dr. Trent envisioned TGen would be good for Arizona’s economy, bringing together collaborative partnering and accompanying knowledge-based businesses that co-locate with major research institutions.

Per Mr. Ballard, also key to TGen’s progress is Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., FACP, FASCO, FAACR, physician in chief and director of translational research at TGen.

Dr. Von Hoff is chief scientific officer for US Oncology and for HonorHealth’s Clinical Research Institute and a clinical professor of medicine at University of Arizona, a release states.

When describing the work at TGen, Mr. Ballard stated its work is:

• Transitional: by translating new genomic knowledge into clinical results
• Genomics: through study of the entire make-up of an organism
• Research: through teams of genomic and computational investigators of cancer, neurological and metabolic disorders
• Institute: TGen’s being a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization

Mr. Ballard shared TGen’s history from 2002, when it was officially launched, to present day’s 215 employees, 12 spin-off entities, individual collaborations, scientific gene discoveries and national/international recognition.

TGen Flagstaff North’s Pathogen Genomics Division addresses valley fever, Lyme disease, antibiotic resistant staph infections, microbiomics, anthrax and other infections. Mr. Ballard shared the statistics that over 150,000 have been diagnosed with valley fever, with 50% originating in Arizona.

During his talk Mr. Ballard highlighted:

• The on-going partnership between Riddell, TGen and Arizona State University Sun Devil football program’s genetic research study designed to advance athlete concussion detection and treatment.
• TGen’s Center for rare children’s diseases, noting that 1 in ten Americans suffer from a rare disease with 50% of those being children.
• TGen’s collaboration with City of Hope’s comprehensive cancer center known as one of the leading cancer hospitals in the West.
• TGen’s funding sources - contributions, grants and services.
• TGen’s Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trials, approved by FDA.