Life Sciences Discovery Fund awards health research proj...( Seattle (August 5 2008) Six Washin...)

Seattle (August 5, 2008) Six Washington State-based life sciences organizations and their partners will receive health research project grants totaling $5 million, the Life Sciences Discovery Fund announced today. The newly-funded health research endeavors will concentrate on prostate cancer imaging, safer in-home environments for older and disabled adults, recovery from brain damage, soft tissue calcification, pain localization and diagnostic smart cards (See Backgrounder Information).

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund awardees are: Clifford Berkman, Washington State University; Diane Cook, Washington State University; Eberhard Fetz, University of Washington; Cecilia Giachelli, University of Washington; Pierre Mourad, University of Washington; and Patrick Stayton, University of Washington.

"The six new Life Sciences Discovery Fund grant awardees have assembled projects that encourage public-private enterprise and demonstrate their organization's agility in organizing such collaborative teams. Collectively, they are addressing a wide spectrum of innovative research opportunitiesfrom inventive neurochip applications to novel health care delivery solutionsthat hold strong health and economic prospects for Washington State," said Executive Director Lee Huntsman.

The grantees were selected by the Life Sciences Discovery Fund Board of Trustees from among 86 proposals that were evaluated by national experts convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In a highly competitive process the proposals were weighted on their scientific merits and their abilities to utilize the funding to provide statewide economic returns, to build a competitive life sciences industry and to advance health care for Washingtonians.

Overall, grant applicants are responding positively and creatively to the Life Sciences Discovery Fund's focus on health care and economic development, according to Board Chair Lura Powell. "Potential
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