Life Sciences Discovery Fund Announces Latest Commercialization Grant Awards
Posted on March 25, 2011 General News
The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) recently announced nearly $600,000 in awards to support commercial development of technologies to improve the diagnosis and management of major health conditions.
The awards were made in the second round of the 2010 commercialization grant competition, which promotes the translation of promising technologies from Washington’s non-profit research sector into marketable products and services having the power to improve health, foster economic growth, and enhance life sciences competitiveness in the state.
Four awards were chosen from 10 proposals received during the competition. Three of the grants awarded were for projects headed by researchers who worked directly with the University of Washington Center for Commercialization to secure funding. A panel of national experts convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science evaluated the scientific and technical merit of the projects, while a panel of commercialization experts assessed each project’s commercial potential and possible health and economic benefits. The LSDF Board of Trustees made the final award selections.
Two of the four new grants are aimed at producing novel tests to diagnose or monitor disease. Jane Burns at Seattle Children’s Hospital, in conjunction with Enertechnix, a Washington-based company, will adapt a novel air sampling device to collect exhaled breath for non-invasive detection of lung infections. Patrick Stayton at the University of Washington will develop new reagents to increase the speed and sensitivity of laboratory tests (known as immunoassays) used for diagnosing and monitoring disorders such as cancer and heart disease.
The remaining two grants focus on better management of neurological conditions. Christopher Bernards at the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason will test a device, developed by the University of Washington and Seattle-based Impel NeuroPharma, that delivers drugs directly to the brain, potentially reducing harmful side effects. Barry Lutz at the University of Washington will use his award to develop an improved drainage system to reduce intracranial pressure in patients with brain disorders or trauma.
Commercialization grants are intended to boost technologies trapped in the so-called “valley of death” (that portion of the product development cycle in which funding is the most difficult to obtain) and make them more amenable to funding from the private sector. Tom Clement at the University of Washington Center for Commercialization (C4C), stated that “LSDF commercialization grants are a key component of C4C’s mission of moving research discoveries out of the lab and into people’s lives. These grants support proof-of-concept studies and other critical activities, that together with our expert advisors including Entrepreneurs-in-Residence guide research outcomes into products to improve human health.”
According to Lura Powell, chair of the LSDF Board of Trustees, getting new technologies into widespread use usually includes forming new companies or establishing partnerships with existing companies. Each of the four awards involves or anticipates the launch of a Washington-based company, in line with LSDF’s mission to enhance the Washington economy. “These young technologies will not have an impact on human health without company involvement. We are pleased to use our commercialization grant funding to both move the technologies forward and encourage the development of Washington’s for-profit life sciences sector,” she stated.
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.
Discover the impact of the Life Sciences Discovery Fund on Washington State and beyond.
View (PDF) the original Life Sciences Discovery Fund news release.