COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NOW ENDORSED TWO ARIZONA REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR NEXT YEAR'S.

ELECTION... ALSO TONIGHT: NEW RESEARCH IS CHANGING WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT VALLEY FEVER... AND, A MAJOR ADDITION TO THE PHOENIX BIOSCIENCE CORE LOOKS TO TURN SCIENTIFIC.

BREAKTHROUGHS INTO PATIENT.

TREATMENTS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

A COUPLE OF COURT CASES OF NOTE A FEDERAL JUDGE TODAY LIMITED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ABILITY TO BLOCK FEDERAL FUNDS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT HAVE CERTAIN DEI INITIATIVES.

THE JUDGE SAID THAT THE POLICY THREATENED FREE SPEECH, ADDING THAT IT DIDN'T HELP THAT THE ADMINISTRATION COULDN'T ADEQUATELY DEFINE WHAT DEI IS.

THE JUDGE ALSO RULED THAT THE ORDER OVERSTEPPED THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH'S LEGAL AUTHORITY OVER LOCAL SCHOOLS.

AND ANOTHER FEDERAL JUDGE TODAY BLOCKED PARTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER EXPANDING PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL VOTER REGISTRATION.

THE JUDGE WROTE THAT THE CONSTITUTION ENTRUSTS CONGRESS AND THE STATES, NOT THE PRESIDENT, WITH THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

THE BLOCK WILL REMAIN IN PLACE.

WHILE A LAWSUIT ON THE MATTER PLAYS OUT.

GAS PRICES ARE UP THIS WEEK, BU NOT BY MUCH.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO TRIPLE-A, WHICH REPORTS THAT THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR IS $3.37.

THAT'S UP A PENNY A GALLON FROM LAST WEEK.

AND IT'S WELL DOWN FROM THE $4.10 A GALLON AVERAGE LAST YEAR.

THA SAID, ARIZONA GAS PRICES ARE 8T HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY AND 20 CENTS A GALLON ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

HOME SALES WERE DOWN, BIG TIME IN MARCH.

SALES OF PREVIOUSLY OWNED HOMES IN THE U.S.

DROPPED 6% FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

IT'S THE WEAKEST MONTH OF MARCH FOR HOME SALES SINCE 2009.

ALL THIS AS THE MEDIAN PRICE OF AN EXISTING HOME HIT RECORD HIGHS.

AND, POLITICAL NOTE: ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES TODAY ANNOUNCED HIS RE-ELECTION BID.

FONTES, A DEMOCRAT, ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT, QUOTE, "OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE UNDER A GRAVE THREAT," AND THAT HE INTENDS TO, QUOTE, "REMAIN AT MY POST STANDING IN THE BREACH, FIGHTING FOR ARIZONANS."

FONTES IS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT TO ANNOUNCE FOR THE SEAT.

REPUBLICAN ALEXLANDER KOLODIN ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY LAST MONTH.

PRESIDENT TRUMP LAST WEEK ENDORSED CONGRESSMAN ANDY BIGGS FOR GOVERNOR.

THIS A FEW MONTHS AFTER ENDORSING ANOTHER REPUBLICAN, KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON FOR GOVERNOR.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR NEXT YEAR'S GOP PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION?

WE ASK POLITICAL CONSULTANT CHUCK COUGHLIN, PRESIDENT OF HIGHGROUND.

OF GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THEY'RE BOTH ENDORSED.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> IT'S TRUMP 101.

HE'S GOT A HISTORY OF DOING THIS.

HE DID THIS UP IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE LAST TIME WITH BLAKE MASTERS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ANTICIPATED THIS, BECAUSE HE ENENDORSEDDED KARRIN AT A TURNING POINT RALLY IN DECEMBER OF THIS PAST YEAR AND GOT A LITTLE PUSH-BACK FROM SOME OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE PARTS OF THE PARTY, AND CONGRESSMAN BIGGS ANNOUNCED THEY HAD A FREEDOM CAUCUS, AND MANY OF US WERE DOING THE MATH ON THE RESOLUTION, THE BUDGET RESOLUTION, WHICH WE ALL REMEMBER THERE WAS LIKE 12 OR 15 FREEDOM CAUCUS REPUBLICANS WHO WERE NO, THEY WERE A NO ON THAT, AND MANY OF US WERE THINKING, OKAY, THAT'S THE END OF THE BUDGET RESOLUTION, AND THEN, BOOM, THE NEXT DAY THEY VOTED ALMOST IN MASS FOR THE BUDGET RESOLUTION.

MANY OF US THOUGHT MAYBE THERE'S A FEW TRADE-OFFS THERE THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE, AND I BELIEVE THAT AT THAT POINT, MR. BIGGS SECURED THE COMMITMENT OF THE PRESIDENT TO ENDORSE HIM AS WELL.

>> AND YET IN CAPITAL LETTERS, THE PRESIDENT TEXTED OUT "GIVE MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT" -- COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT -- TO BOTH.

I MEAN, WHAT DOES IT MEAN POLITICALLY IN THE POLITICAL CLASS?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE AVERAGE PERSON IN ARIZONA WHO MAY THINK I LIKE MAGA, I WANT TO FOLLOW HIM.

WHERE DO THEY FOLLOW HIM?

>> WELL, IT'S A PURE BLOOD MAGA INK DORSEMENT, RIGHT.

I MEAN BIGGS WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CAUCUS, HE NEVER PASSED ANYTHING DURING HIS TIME THERE AND PRETTY MUCH A DECONSTRUCTIONNIST.

SOMEBODY WHO REALLY DOESN'T BELIEVE IN THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT.

I WOULD CALL HIM MOSTLY AN IDEALOGICAL LIBERTARIAN AND A LOT OF THAT APPEARS TO THE DOJ ELIMINATE WASTE CROWD.

WHICH, REMEMBER, IT'S ONLY 20% OF REPUBLICANS THAT VOTE IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, AND THESE ARE YOUR MOST LOYAL MAGA FOLKS.

AND SO YOU HAVE A TURNING POINT, A TURNING POINT HERE IN ARIZONA, WHICH IS AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FOR VERY STRONG MAGA INTERESTS, AND THEY SEEM TO BE SUPPORTING MR. BIGGS.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR KARRIN TAYLOR ROBINSON?

>> IT'S GOT GREAT NEWS.

SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO WORK HARD.

IT'S HER BUSINESS RECORD SHE'S RUNNING ON.

SHE'S A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WOMAN.

SHE'S BEEN AN ENTITLEDMENT LAWYER FOR DMV WHICH HAS DEVELOPED ALL KINDS OF PROPERTIES AROUND THE STATE.

HER BROTHER WAS THE FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, HER FATHER WAS A SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE FAMILY HAS A LONG LINE OF PUBLIC SERVICE, AND SHE HAS A RECORD BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT.

HER ARGUMENT IS GOING TO BE IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO GET SOMETHING DONE, I'M YOUR GAL, AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A VERY HARD CAMPAIGN TO RUN.

BUT SHE IS BLESSED WITH A GREAT DEAL OF RESOURCES.

HER HUSBAND IS ED ROBINSON, ROBINSON COMMUNITIES, AND ED LOVES HIS WIFE, AND SO ED'S GONNA DO WHATEVER HE CAN TO SUPPORT HER.

BUT SHE CAN SAY -- I MEAN, SHE CAN TAKE THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST CONGRESSMAN BIGGS TO A CERTAIN DEGREE BUT THE MAGA CROWD CAN TAKE A LOT OF OFFENSE AGAINST KARRIN TAYLOR.

I MEAN KTR IS THE SWAMP ALREADY IN THE CAUCUS.

THAT'S WHAT SHE HAS TO GO UP AGAINST IN THE PRIMARY.

>> BUT SHE'S GOING TO HAVE AN AMAZING FUNDRAISING ADVANTAGE.

I THINK IN THE LAST REPORT SHE HAD OVER 4,000 INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS.

SHE'S -- HAS A MILLION DOLLARS IN HER PACK.

IN THE LAST QUARTER, SHE RAISED OVER $850,000 IN -- JUST FOR HER CAMPAIGN.

SO IF IT BECOMES A TURN-OUT CAMPAIGN, WHAT CAN YOU TAKE WITH THAT REPUBLICAN TURN-OUT, AND CAN YOU THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR INTO 25, 26% AND MAKE IT A REFERENDUM ON WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S GOING, AND DO YOU WANT SOMEBODY THAT BELIEVES IN DONALD TRUMP'S AGENT AND KNOWS HOW TO MANAGE IT, OR DO YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE ANY RECORD?

>> DOES IT BECOME A NASTY CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK SO.

>> YOU THINK SO.

>> I DO.

>> IF KARRIN'S GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL, IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE ROUGH.

AND AGAIN, KARRIN RAN THIS LAST TIME AND TROST KARI LAKE, AND THEN SHE'S GOT A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN EXPERIENCE UNDER HER BELT, AND ANDY DOES NOT.

HE RAN HIS ONLY COMPETITIVE CAMPAIGN.

HE NEARLY LOST TO CHRISTINE JONES WHEN HE RAN THE FIRST TIME FOR CONGRESS, WHEN MATT SALMON DECIDED NOT TO RUN AGAIN.

HE ENDORSED MR. BIGGS.

CHRISTINE RAN AGAINST HIM.

SHE CAME 9 VOTES AWAY FROM BEATING ANYMORE THAT CYCLE.

THAT'S THE ONLY COMPETITIVE RACE HE'S EVER HAD.

>> YEAH, WE TEND TO FORGET THIS IS A STATEWIDE RACE, AND CONGRESSMAN BIGGS IS VERY WELL-KNOWN IN THE VALLEY AND EXTREMELY WELL-KNOWN IN THE EAST VALLEY.

OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE MAYBE NOT SO MUCH.

>> NOT SO MUCH, I MEAN, HIS DISTRICT, DISTRICT 5 THE VERY, VERY DEEPLY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

IT WILL NEVER BE REPRESENTED BY A DEMOCRAT.

WE WERE TALKING TODAY IT'S BEEN WHITE, MOSTLY MORMON MEN THAT HAVE REPRESENTED THAT DISTRICT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

>> THAT BEING SAID, YOU MENTIONED DEMOCRATS, WHAT DO THE DEMOCRATS THINK ABOUT ALL THIS, AND HOW DOES GOVERNOR HOBBS -- WHAT DOES SHE WANT TO SEE?

>> I THINK SHE'S RINGING THE DINNER BELL ON THIS ONE.

I THINK SHE'S PRETTY HAPPY THAT THIS HAS TURNED INTO WHAT SHE HAD HOPED WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT COMPETITIVE FIGHT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW LAST TIME.

WE SAW IN THE GUBERNATORIAL CYCLE LAST TIME, KARRIN AND MATT, MATT DIDN'T DROP OUT UNTIL VERY LATE.

HIS NAME WAS STILL ON THE BALLOT.

THERE'S PEOPLE WHO SAID IF MATT HAD DROPPED OUT EARLIER KARRIN PROBABLY WINS THAT RACE.

SO IT WAS A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE AND I'M PRETTY CONFIDENTth GOING TO BE A COMPETITIVE RACE, AND OF COURSE MS. HOBBS WILL VERY MUCH ENJOY WATCHING THE REPUBLICANS BEAT THE TAR OUT OF ONE ANOTHER.

>> WHO WOULD YOU RATHER FACE?

>> MY INSTINCT WOULD BE RATHER FACE MR. BIGGS BECAUSE OF HIS -- THE NARROWNESS OF HIS CONSTITUENCY THAT'S NEVER RUN STATEWIDE BEFORE, THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE A RECEIVED -- A PERCEIVED BROAD BASE OF SUPPORT IN ARIZONA IN ORDER WIN A STATEWIDE ELECTION, YOU NEED A MAJORITY REPUBLICANS, BUT YOU ALSO NEED A PLURALITY OF UNAFFILIATED VOTERS.

AND I THINK MS. HOBBS WOULD FEEL ADVANTAGED IN TALKING TO THOSE TYPE OF VOTERS.

>> LAST QUESTION, COULD SOMEONE AT THE LAST SECOND POP UP IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY TO JUST GUM UP THE WORKS AND MAKE US RETHINK THE NUMBER THERE IS?

COULD SOMEONE JUMP INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION AS A THIRD CANDIDATE AND GUM UP THE WORKS THERE?

>> I'M GOING TO DO ONE BETTER.

I'M NOT CLEAR THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WILL BE AN UNTETHERED AFFAIR.

I BELIEVE THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT GOVERNOR HOBBS AND HER CONFIDENCE WITHIN THE PARTY AND HER ABILITY TO WIN A STATEWIDE ELECTION, SO THERE'S QUESTIONS THERE.

YOU HAVE -- I KNOW MR.

UPON TESS ANNOUNCED HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN TODAY.

MAIZE, WHO'S BEEN THE FOREFRONT OF THE STATE'S OPPOSITION TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND DEMOCRATS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY PLEASED WITH HER AS WELL AND THEN LIKE YOU SAID, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE REALLY HARD -- I'VE ALL THOUGHT THAT AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE WOULD HAVE A SHOT, IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD BECAUSE YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PARTISANS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE 35% OF DEMOCRATS AND -- THAT SHOWS UP IN AN ELECTION, AND THAT'S YOUR DEDICATED BASE, AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT LEFT WITH A LOT OF THE ELECTORATE THAT IF YOU'RE RUNNING AS AN TOIND PLAY WITH.

AND THE BIG PROBLEM THERE IS YOU DISAPPEAR UNTIL THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> RIGHT.

BUT YOU COULD BE A SPANIER IN THE WORKS.

>> YOU COULD.

I MEAN, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING'S OFF THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD KEEP MY EYES ON THE BALL, SEE WHAT THIS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.

WE'RE MONTHS AND MONTHS AWAY FROM CALLING THIS IN ANY SERIOUS WAY.

IT WILL BE A VERY ENTERTAINING YEAR AND YOU'LL HAVE LOTS MORE GUESTS TO TALK TO ABOUT IT.

>> GOOD STUFF, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> RESEARCHERS AT ASU'S HEALTH OBSERVATORY ARE USING ENVIRONMENTAL DATA TO HELP DOCTORS BETTER DIAGNOSE AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF VALLEY FEVER.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME DR. DAVID ENGELTHALER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH OBSERVATORY, PART OF ASU HEALTH.

GOOFED TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO, TED.

>> YEAH, BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR, ASU HEALTH OBSERVATORY, WHAT IS THAT?

>>th PART OF THE NEW ENTERPRISE CALLED ASU HEALTH, WHICH INCLUDES A NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL, A NEW PUBLIC HEALTH SCHOOL, BRINGING TOGETHER SOME OF THE OTHER GREAT SCHOOLS AROUND HEALTH AND BUILDING A NEW ASSET FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA, THE HEALTH OBSERVATORY IS REALLY CHARGED WITH LET'S BRING TOGETHER HEALTH DATA AND TRANSPORT THAT INTO HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND THEN USE THAT TO SHARE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH METERS, HEALTH OFFICIALS AND ALSO THE GENERAL PUBLIC SO WE CAN MAKE BETTER DECISIONS IN OUR OWN LIVES.

>> AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW THAT AFFECTS VALLEY FEVER.

FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NEW HERE, WHAT IS VALLEY FEVER.

A LOT OF US KNOW WHAT IT IS.

>> WELL, VALLEY FEVER IS DEFINITELY ARIZONA'S DISEASE.

A MICROSCOPIC FUNGUS THAT LOVES HOT, DRY SOIL.

IF IT GETS IN THE AIR, COULD YOU BREATHE IT IN AND YOU COULD GET PNEUMONIA AND IT COULD CAUSE MORE SERIOUS ILLNESS AS WELL.

IT KEEPS PEOPLE OUT OF SCHOOL, IT KEEPS PEOPLE OUT OF WORK, HAS A TREMENDOUS EFFECT ON THEM.

>> DOES EXPOSURE ALWAYS MEAN ILLNESS?

>> DEFINITELY NOT.

THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO GET EXPOSED, AND THE CDC THINKS IT'S NORTH OF 300,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR IN THE SOUTHWEST GET EXPOSED, THE MAJORITY OF THEM DON'T DEVELOP SYMPTOMS OR IF THEY DO, THEY'RE MILD ENOUGH THAT THEY DON'T GO SEE A DOCTOR.

>> AND FLU-LIKE, FATIGUE, RASHES, THAT SORT OF THING.

>> CORRECT, SOMETIMES YOU'LL STAY HOME FOR A WEEK OR MORE.

>> I REMEMBER A LONG TIME AGO WHEN I WAS FIRST HEARING ABOUT VALLEY FEVER, THE WORD WAS, YOU GET IT, YOU'RE DOWN, AND YOU'RE OUT FOR A LONG TIME.

IS THAT STILL THE CASE.

>> DEFINITELY CAN BE.

PEOPLE WHO GET IT CAN GET WALKING PNEUMONIA AND THEY JUST WANT TO SLEEP, THEY WANT TO STAY IN BED, AND THAT COULD LAST FOR WEEKS AND SOMETIMES A MONTH OR MORE.

>> IS THERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AS WE SPEAK THAT SAYS YAY OR NAY, YOU'VE GOT IT OR YOU DON'T?

>> THIS IS GREAT.

ARIZONA'S INSTITUTION LIKE USU, HAVE BEEN WORKING IN BUILDING DIAGNOSTICS.

SO THERE ARE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS OUT THERE, BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE THEM FASTER AND CHEAPER AND SMARTER.

AND IS IT AN OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED AS PNEUMONIA.

>> MOST PNEUMONIA CASES ARE NOT EVEN TESTED FOR VALLEY FEVER.

>> YOU CAN HAVE HALF AND HALF, CAN YOU HAVE PNEUMONIA, AND GET A LITTLE BIT OF VALLEY FEVER?

NOT A LOT, BUT A LITTLE BIT.

>> ANYTIME YOU HAVE SOME TYPE OF LUNG INFECTION, IT SETS YOU UP FOR DIFFERENT INFECTIONS AS WELL, SO IT'S POSSIBLE.

>> WHAT KIND OF DATA IS BEING USED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VALLEY FEVER?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT WITH THE HEALTH OBSERVATORY AND WITH THE OUR FRIENDS IS WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT MUCH MORE PRECISE INFORMATION, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, GENOMICS, WE CAN USE AI FOR INTERPRETING THIS, AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FUNGUS, WHERE IT LIVES, HOW IT GETS UP INTO THE AIR AND REALLY THEN WHO'S GONNA BE AT RISK FOR EXPOSURE AND THE IDEA IS AFTER A DUST STORM, YOU BETTER WATCH OUT.

EVERYTHING IS ALL MIXED UP IN THE AIR, BUT YOU'RE SAYING NOT NECESSARILY.

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> I GREW UP IN THE SOUTHWEST, AND WE HEARD THIS, STAY OUT OF THE DUST STORM.

TURNS OUT IT'S ACTUALLY MYTHOLOGY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT AIR FILTERS WE SEE NO DIFFERENCE THE DAYS BEFORE OR THE DAYS OF OR THE DAYS AFTER.

NO STATISTICAL DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER.

THE REASON BEING THIS FUNGUS LIVES IN THE SOIL WHERE TYPICALLY RODENTS ARE, AND THAT HAS TO BE DISTURBED.

SO DOWN BELOW THE SURFACE, GET UP INTO THE AIR, LIKE CONSTRUCTION OR OTHER THINGS THAT WILL DIG UP THE DIRT, AND THEN THE SURROUNDING REGION IS WHAT THEY GET.

>> AND WE THINK OF FUNGUS, AND YOU THINK OF MOISTURE BUT NOT FOR THIS.

>> THIS PARTICULAR FUNGUS LOVES THE HOT, DRY SOIL, PROBABLY BECAUSE IT CAN THEN OUTCOMPETE OTHER THINGS THAT CAN'T GROW IN THAT.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED DEAD ROAD ENTERS THAT ARE DECAYING LIKE UNDER THE SOIL, THAT FUNCTION GUS STILL THERE, AND POOF, IT COMES UP.

>> WE USED TO THINK OF THIS AS JUST A SOIL FUNGUS BUT REALLY IT'S AN ANIMAL FUNGUS.

ANIMALS, MAMMALS CAN GET IT.

IF AN ANIMAL DIES UNDERGROUND, THE BODY WILL DECAY AND THE FUNGUS WILL GROW GRAVELY RIGHT THERE IN THAT LOCATION.

SO WE SEE A LOT OF FUNGUS UNDER GROUND FROM ANIMALS THAT BOROUGH.

EVERYTHING FROM THE WHOLE SYSTEM, UNDERSTANDING HOW -- WHERE IT GROWS, HOW IT GROWS, WHO'S GOING TO BE EXPOSED AND HOW DO WE BETTER TEST THOSE PEOPLE, WE'RE MOVING ON ALL FRONTS.

THERE ARE SOME DIAGNOSTICS THAT ARE AVAILABLE NOW.

WE'VE DEVELOPED SOME OF THE GENETIC BASED DIAGNOSTICS LIKE WE HAD FOR COVID AND ALSO DEVELOPING BETTER BLOOD TESTS AT ASU.

>> AND LASTLY, COMMUNICATION ON THIS.

LEARNED LESSONS FROM THE PANDEMIC, HUH?

>> YEAH.

THE HEALTH OBSERVATORY MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, I THINK WE'RE ALL SEARCHING FOR A TRUSTED SORT OF HEALTH INFORMATION.

MAYBE IT WASN'T THE GOVERNMENT OR THE BIG VACCINE COMPANIES.

WE WANT TO BUILD THAT FOR ARIZONA WHERE WE WORK WITH ALL OF OUR HEALTH PARTNERS AND GET REAL USEFUL INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AGAIN, ASU HEALTH OBSERVATORY, GOOD TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR.

>> THANKS, TED.

HONORHEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE RECENTLY OPENED ITS FIRST MAJOR LAB AT THE PHOENIX BIO-SCIENCE CORE.

THE GOAL: TO FAST-TRACK RESEARCH INTO REAL-WORLD TREATMENTS.

DR. SUNIL SHARMA IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE, AT THE HONORHEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> A TRANSITION AUTOMATIC SCIENCE LAB DOWN THERE AT THAT HUB.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> BASICALLY THE IDEA HERE IS TO BRING SORT OF WHAT WE CALL BENCH TO BEDSIDE RESEARCH, MEANING THE STRENGTH OF THE CLINICAL SYSTEM THAT HONORHEALTH HAS AND A LOT OF THE BIG HOSPITAL HAVE AND USE THAT INFORMATION TO DEVELOP NEW TREATMENTS AND DIAGNOSTICS AND THEN SORT OF CYCLE THEM BACK TO THE CLINICS SO WHAT WE MEAN BY TRANSLATION RESEARCH IS BENCH TO BEDSIDE EXCHANGE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN IMAGINE, FOR INSTANCE, LEARNING FROM THE CLINICAL POSITIONS AND PATIENTS AND PATIENT ADVOCATES WHO ARE PRACTICES NATE ABOUT A PARTICULAR DISEASE.

I'LL PICK ONE OUT OF THE HAT, FOR INSTANCE, BRAIN TUMORS AND TODAY FOR INSTANCE WE HAD A BIG MEETING BETWEEN ALL OF THE NEURO NEUROSURGEONS AND ONCOLOGISTS AT HONORHEALTH AND WHAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGIES CAN WE BRING TO FAST-FORWARD THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN TUMORS OR DEVELOP NEW TREATMENTS FOR BRAIN TUMORS.

AND THEN THEY GO HAND IN HAND WORKING WITH THE CLINICAL PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SCIENCE REALLY ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND TRANSLATE THAT QUICKLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF PATIENTS.

>> IS IT DISEASE-SPECIFIC OR MORE OF A BROAD VIEW?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THE WAY MEDICINE IS EVOLVING IS SORT OF HE WAS ON TWO RELATED SPHERES.

ONE OF THEM IS OBVIOUSLY DISEASE-SPECIFIC FROM THE POINT OF FEW OF DEVELOPING EXCELLENCE OR SPECIALIZATION AROUND SPECIAL DISEASES AS FAR AS MANY GO AND SEE A HEMATOLOGIST OR AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST, YOU'RE ACTUALLY ASKING FOR A SPECIALIZATION.

ON THE OTHER HAND, A LOT OF THE TEAMS THAT -- A LOT OF THE PATHOGENS, THE PROTEINS THAT SORT OF DRIVE THESE DISEASES CAN BE SHARED ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

SO THAT'S WHAT I CALL THE CROSSROADS AND THE LAB AND THE WHOLE CENTER IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO WORK AT THESE CROSSROADS MEANING BRINGING THE KNOWLEDGE SCIENCE ACROSS DIFFERENT PATHWAYS AND APPLY THEM TO SPECIFIC DISEASES.

>> ARE YOU USING OTHER PEOPLE'S RESEARCH, OR IS THIS A WAY TO REALLY FOCUS ON YOUR OWN RESEARCH GOING FROM BENCH TO PATIENT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE ACTUALLY LEVERAGE A LARGE AMOUNT OF BASIC SCIENCE THAT IS DEVELOPED ALL AROUND THE WORLD AT ASU AND OTHER PLACES AND THEN BRING THAT A STEP CLOSER TOWARDS THE CLINIC.

SO I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THIS WITHOUT MAKING IT SUPER COMPLICATED, FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF THE THINGS -- ONE OF THE STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD IS TRYING TO PHASE OUTAGE MAL TESTING.

YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD THAT STORY WHAT WE'VE DEVELOPED IS A MODEL FOR CANCER THAT IS DERIVED FROM THE PATIENT'S TISSUE, FOR INSTANCE, AND WE CAN USE THOSE MODEL TO MODEL DISEASE AND DEVELOP TREATMENTS WITHOUT NECESSARILY USING ANIMAL MODELS.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE WAY OF THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN TAKE BASIC SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND TRANSLATE IT INTO THE CLINIC.

>> NOW, A SIGNIFICANT FOOT PRINT AT THE CENTER FOR TRANCE SAYINGSAL SCIENCE, TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE AND HOW IT FITS IN.

>> WELL, ESSENTIALLY THE WHOLE EXCITEMENT THAT AROUND WHOLE DOWNTOWN BIO SCIENCE -- I CALL IT THE BIO SCIENCE ASPECT THAT IS DEVELOPING.

WE ARE ALSO PART OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICAL ENGINEERING AND ALSO AFFILIATED CLOSELY WITH THE -- ASU'S NEW ASU HEALTH THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE AND HELPING TO DEVELOP THE RESEARCH PORTFOLIO FOR THE ASU MEDICAL SCHOOL.

AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, ASU MEDICAL SCHOOL IS A CLINICAL AFFILIATION TO HONORHEALTH, AND SO THE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO OUR CLINICAL LOCATIONS AND WE CAN BRING A BRIDGE BETWEEN RESEARCH AND CLINICAL CARE, NOT ONLY FOR THE PHYSICIANS AT HONORHEALTH OR OTHER PLACES, BUT ALSO THROUGH MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE.

>> BACK TO RESEARCH REAL QUICKLY, WILL THIS RESULT IN SPIN-OFF PROJECTS?

SPIN-OFF INDUSTRIES, COMPANIES, THESE SORTS OF THINGS?

>> THAT'S THE BIG HOPE BECAUSE BEFORE I TRAINED AND STARTED TO BUILD THE CENTER, I WAS PART OF -- OF COURSE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE BIO SCIENCE SCHOOL TO HAVE A STRONG COMMERCIAL SPINOUT, AND THEN REALLY BUILD AN ECOSYSTEM FOR INNOVATION.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD CALL IT.

AND IT'S BEEN BUILT OVER -- IT'S BEEN BUILT FOR A LONG TIME AND REALLY WITH THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL, THE CENTER FOR TRANSLATION OF SCIENCE AND OTHER COMPONENTS, IT'S REALLY A FANTASTIC SPACE TO BE AND REALLY FOR ALL OF THE CLINICAL PEOPLE IN ARIZONA.

>> WHAT'S THE TIMELINE GOING ON HERE?

>> THE TIME LINE IS A LONG-TERM TIMELINE IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS GETTING STARTED, AND THE IDEA IS LET'S SHOW SOME REAL PROGRESS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, CHANGING CLINICAL CARE AND MEDICAL EDUCATION.

>> ALL RIGHT, DOCTOR.

AGAIN, HONORHEALTH FOR CENTER OF TRASASIONAL SCIENCE.

A LOT GOING ON OUT THERE.

>> YES.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT.