LSDF announces Proof of Concept grants to speed up promising health-related technologies

For-profit and non-profit organizations in Washington state will receive $1.25M in Proof of Concept grant funding to accelerate the translation of promising health-related technologies from concept to commercialization, the Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) announced today. Also announced was $2.4M in Opportunity grants for two major research and development initiatives. (See Backgrounder Information.)

The LSDF Board of Trustees made the final award selections following review of proposals for scientific and technical merit, potential impact on health and health care in Washington, and future economic and commercial returns to the state.

The five Proof of Concept grants will advance products to improve the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of Alzheimer's disease, brain cancer, and tooth decay. Funding will also support technology to increase biomedical research productivity and enable development of safer drugs.

"This latest set of Proof of Concept awards is our final cohort for the 2012-2013 funding cycle, and we are thrilled to close this cycle on such a high note," said John DesRosier, LSDF executive director. "These grants will foster commercialization of novel technologies directed at specific diseases such as Alzheimer's, as well as at cutting-edge tools with the potential to enhance research and drug development for many diseases, in Washington and beyond."

The Opportunity grants to the Seattle Children's Research Institute (SCRI) and the University of Washington (UW) support initiatives that significantly leverage LSDF dollars against funds from other sources. Funding for both grants is contingent upon receipt of the leveraged commitments described in the proposals.

The SCRI award will fund critical studies of a cancer immunotherapy regimen that is in clinical trials in children and adults, in support of principal investigator Michael Jensen's vision to develop a leading immunotherapy program in Seattle. SCRI and partners will match the LSDF dollars through grants and philanthropic donations.

The UW award will support the launch of the Institute for Protein Design and the development and commercialization of medically useful proteins from the laboratory of principal investigator David Baker. LSDF funding will be matched by contributions from UW and private donors.

"These Opportunity grants, to two of our state's top research institutions, will help Washington maintain its leadership position in cancer research and treatment and capitalize upon the outputs of some of our most innovative and productive investigators," noted board chair Carol Dahl.