Trump Cuts Prompt U of A to Halt Life Sciences Project

The University of Arizona has slammed the brakes on a $300 million biomedical hub in Downtown Phoenix after President Donald Trump caused federal funding uncertainty.

The Tucson-based university paused its 200,000-square-foot Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies at Seventh and Fillmore streets, near its medical school, the Phoenix Business Journal reported.

Plans for the seven-story research center call for focusing on precision medicine for immunotherapies research and treatment. Last summer, the Phoenix City Council approved its ground lease and funding. Infrastructure work began last fall. It was slated to open in mid-2027.

But with uncertainty around federal funding, the U of A leadership put a halt on the life sciences project. It’s unclear how long it will stay suspended.

While the U of A remains committed to the biosciences center, “we need to pause and reassess [Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies] given the uncertainties,” John Arnold, COO for the University of Arizona, said in a statement.

On March 18, Moody’s Ratings lowered its outlook for the U.S. higher education sector to negative from stable. The reason: Trump’s potential federal policy changes created “a more difficult operating environment for colleges and universities,” according to Bloomberg.

“Recent developments in federal research funding require an evaluation of all research-intensive university infrastructure needs, including capital investments and operations,” according to a statement from U of A.

At risk are $480 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health to public university researchers in Arizona that include terms related to Trump’s campaign to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs, according to Cronkite News.

University officials are coming to terms with the potential changes to federal funding, including the amount of research support.

“With annual fixed costs associated with UA buildings and utilities that cannot be eliminated, reductions in research funding will impact all facets of the university’s operations,” according to the university statement.

— Dana Bartholomew