The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) today
announced $1.1 million in five Proof of Concept grants to Washington for-profit and non-profit
organizations to foster the translation of health-related products from the laboratory into the
commercial marketplace.
Two of the five new grants will advance rapid testing technologies that were invented within
Washington-based companies. HeatFlow Technologies (principal investigator Warren Dinges)
will validate the performance of a novel PCR system for diagnosing and managing human
diseases, with an initial focus on HIV/AIDS. Photonic BioSystems, Inc. (principal investigator
David Putnam) will construct and test a portable device for detecting water contamination by
disease-causing microorganisms.
The remaining three awards will promote the transition of promising technologies and concepts
out of university settings and into the for-profit sector for commercialization. Amit
Bandyopadhyay of Washington State University will test novel joint implant materials that may
be safer and more durable than current products. Vincenzo Cirulli of the University of
Washington will optimize an assay to screen stem cell therapies for tumor-forming potential in
advance of human testing. Joseph Harding of Washington State University will study a new
treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in a preclinical model.
“We continue to see strong interest in the Proof of Concept granting program throughout
Washington’s life sciences community. Our latest awards are indicative of the high quality of
applications we receive each cycle, and we believe that each grantee has strong potential to
help make Washingtonians healthier and safer,” stated John DesRosier, LSDF executive director.
More info: http://www.lsdfa.org/documents/pdfs/LSDF_Grant_Awards_Press_Release_Backgrounder_12-16-13.pdf
