Each year, AZBio looks back across the legislative session to identify those leaders whose actions and active engagement support the growth of Arizona’s life science and healthcare industry and help to ensure the people of Arizona benefit from its success. Scores are then tallied and the top ten legislative leaders are named the year’s Trailblazers.
The Arizona Bioindustry Association (AZBio) will honor Arizona Legislators on December 10, 2026 for their service to the community and for championing research, education, innovation, the growth of Arizona’s bioscience sector, and for ensuring that Arizona patients benefit from life science innovation.
Pictured L to R: Senate President Pro-tempore TJ Shope, Senator Brian Fernandez, Senator John Kavanagh, Senator Kiana Maria Sears, Senator Priya Sundareshan, Senator Carine Werner, Representative Leo Biasiucci, Representative Selina Bliss, Representative Stacey Travers, Representative Julie WilloughbyThe 2026 Trailblazer honorees are recognized by the leaders of Arizona’s bioscience and healthcare community at the AZBio Trailblazer Awards and Appreciation Luncheon.
AZBio and members of the Arizona Business and Bioscience Community will gather for a special luncheon to honor our Arizona Legislators and the State and Local Elected Officials who have made it possible for the Arizona Bioscience Industry to gain national recognition, build capital infrastructure, and take its place as a leader in both scientific discovery and job growth.
Based on numerical scores reflecting public policy actions and community engagement, the 2026 Trailblazers are:
- Senate President Pro-tempore TJ Shope
- Senator Brian Fernandez, Bioscience Caucus Co-chair
- Senator John Kavanagh, Majority Leader
- Senator Kiana Maria Sears
- Senator Priya Sundareshan, Minority Leader
- Senator Carine Werner, Health and Human Services Committee Chair and Bioscience Caucus Co-chair
- Representative Leo Biasiucci
- Representative Selina Bliss, House Health and Human Services Committee Chair and Bioscience Caucus Co-chair
- Representative Stacey Travers, Minority Whip and Bioscience Caucus Co-chair
- Representative Julie Willoughby, Majority Whip and Bioscience Caucus Co-chair
The December 10th event honors these leaders and all Arizona Elected Leaders at the local, county, state and federal level who are working together with our industry to make Arizona a top-tier life science state.
On our way to the Top Tier
Thanks to the collabortative efforts of community, business and elected leaders, Arizona is home to one of the fastest growing life science sectors in the United States.
The industry sector generated over $43.64 billion in Economic Impact in 2023.
That’s up over 88% from 2016 and growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 9.5%.
Arizona’s bioscience industry (not including our hospitals) employed 40,399 in 2023 across 3,652 state business establishments, representing a rapid 24.6 percent increase in employment since 2019 and placing the state among the leaders in employment growth. The average wage in the bioscience industry was $102,161—53 percent higher than the state’s private sector average. View More of Arizona’s Bioscience Industry Data
On December 10, 2026, AZBio will share the new economic impact data and Arizona’s place in the national rankings based on 2025 data with Arizona’s elected leaders and the community at the 2026 Trailblazers luncheon.
For more information, visit: https://www.azbio.org/events/trailblazers2026