Life Sciences Discovery Fund Advances Latest Research Proposals

Ten Washington State-based life sciences research teams will progress to the interview round in the Life Sciences Discovery Fund's latest grants competition, "Innovative Programs to Advance Health Research." A total of up to $20 million in funding is available in this competition. Funding in this competition will help Washington research organizations and institutions launch new programs of research.
Expert review of proposals in this competition occurs in two stages: a panel review of all proposals followed by interviews of a subset of applicants chosen by the Life Sciences Discovery Fund's Board of Trustees at its September 16, 2008 meeting. All proposals are reviewed for: their scientific, technical and organizational merit; the importance of the research to health and health care; and the potential for the research to create economic returns to Washington State. The ten principal investigators and programs selected for interviews are:

• Gwenn Garden, "Neurotherapeutics Evaluation Center," University of Washington
• Mary Larimer, "Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behavior," University of Washington
• Thomas Rea, "Program to Integrate Technology and Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation," King County (Washington) Department of Public Health
• Karin Rodland, "Integrated Program in Chronic Pulmonary Disease," Battelle, Pacific Northwest Division
• John Roll, "Program of Excellence in Rural Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment," Washington State University
• Lawrence Corey, "Washington Vaccine Alliance," Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• Patrick Stayton, "Center for Intracellular Delivery of Biologics," University of Washington
• Jonathan Himmelfarb, "Development of a Chronic Kidney Disease Collaborative," University of Washington
• Beverly Torok-Storb, "Cell-Based Therapies Through Reprogramming and Cell Fate Control," Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• Matthew O'Donnell, "Molecular Imaging and Therapy Using Ultrasound," University of Washington

The interviews will be conducted on November 12-13, 2008 in Seattle, Washington. Final awardee selection by the Life Sciences Discovery Fund Board of Trustees will occur on December 16, 2008.  Funding for this grant competition comes from Washington's allocation of bonus payments under the Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement, revenues arising from multi-state litigation with tobacco product manufacturers.

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund, a Washington State agency established in May 2005, makes grant investments in innovative life sciences research to benefit Washington and its citizens.
Source: Dianne Needham
Life Sciences Discovery Fund