Washington Global Health Alliance completes internal coordination study of global health

The Washington Global Health Alliance, a group representing 26 life-sciences businesses, institutions and governmental organizations, has completed an internal coordination study demonstrating the significant influence of its primary partners in the mission of global health.

Examining the current projects conducted by nine of 11 executive member institutions on the WGHA board, the study reveals that members collectively and directly run 480 health projects in 92 countries, including the United States. With those projects, members work with 593 unique partners, including 44 foreign government entities.

"This demonstrates in hard, quantitative terms the unique spirit of collaboration that infuses our character here in the Northwest," said Lisa Cohen, director of the Washington Global Health Alliance. "We hope this research captures the passion that our members have for eradicating disease and improving the lives of millions of people around the world."

Battelle/Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Infectious Disease Research Institute, the Institute for Systems Biology, PATH, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI), Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Institute, including its Global Alliance for the Prevention of Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS) program, the University of Washington and Washington State University participated in the study, which was conducted by Berk & Associates of Seattle.

The first-of-its-kind study will be introduced at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday, Nov. 18) at the first of four sessions in the Domesticating Global Health Series at SBRI presented by the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA). The WBBA is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(6), trade association serving the life sciences industry in the state of Washington.

"The data culminated from this first-of-its-kind comprehensive study underscores the emergence of our global health community and the importance of this growing sector as a strategic asset in Washington state," said WBBA president Chris Rivera. "We have enjoyed a close collaboration with the WGHA and will continue to work together to improve health solutions for citizens in Washington state and globally."

The study was envisioned by Seattle Biomedical Research Institute founder Ken Stuart, who wanted to know about the scope of projects by other WGHA partners, to generate innovative ideas for cooperation and increase efficiencies.

What resulted was telling. The WGHA study participants are, among other efforts, involved in

• 183 different projects focusing of emerging and epidemic diseases;
• 105 vaccine and immunization programs;
• 164 distinct non-governmental organizations and research centers; and
• 245 hospitals and universities, including 108 outside the United States.

All nine WGHA participants shared the National Institutes of Health as a partner, and in 2008 the state of Washington received more than $761 million in NIH funding.

"This state has been an innovator in this field. Seattle is known worldwide as a nexus of global health activities," Cohen added. "The information in this study will be used to plan and coordinate our future projects."