TheraCea Pharma receives funding in competitive IdeaFunding 2021 award.

“The university’s innovation ecosystem is growing, and TLA represents the first step in launching companies based on UofA intellectual property,” said Tech Launch Arizona (TLA) Assistant Vice President Doug Hockstad. “These startups not only bring great solutions to real world problems, but they’re helping to develop our economy right here at home.”

Yet another UArizona startup, TheraCea, received the $1,000 People’s Choice award. The company is working to bring to market a new chemical process for radio-labeling PET contrast agents. Iman Daryaei, Ph.D., CEO of the company, led the research and development effort, co-inventing the technology during his doctoral studies in the UArizona Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. TheraCea Pharma won UACI Sponsored Launch fueled by Bioindustry Organization of Southern Arizona (BIOSA), housed at the new biotech incubator, UACI at Oro Valley. Included with entrance into the program and space at the new location, the startup was awarded a $5,000 cash prize bringing the total package value to $15,000.