WBBA Leads Efforts to Make Statewide Biosciences Plan a Reality

On Jan. 25, nearly 70 people, our largest showing ever, trekked to Olympia to participate in WBBA’s Annual Bioscience Day. Representatives from research institutions, biotechnology and medical device companies were joined by attorneys and accountants, as well as staff from real estate firms, architectural firms, supply firms, design and communication firms participated in meetings throughout the day to convey their interest in advancing the life sciences within our state. Patrick Kelly, Vice President of State Government Relations for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) was a special guest at the event.

“Bioscience Day was an unqualified success! Through committee briefings, legislator visits, leadership meetings and the evening’s networking reception, WBBA increased awareness about the important contributions our research institutions and companies make in creating a healthy future for Washingtonians,” reported Ruth Scott, WBBA’s President. “Now the real work begins as WBBA leads the development of a collaborative and comprehensive state bioscience strategy.”

During a briefing for WBBA Bioscience Day delegates, Dr. Bruce Montgomery, WBBA Board Chair and CEO of Corus Pharma, reviewed critical steps necessary to implement a comprehensive state bioscience strategy:

• Provide increased support for public and private institutions conducting basic research in life sciences.
• Improve the speed and success rate of translating scientific discovery into commercial products that improve patient’s lives.


• Expand availability of early-stage capital to foster life sciences product development, company expansion and job creation.


• Promote public policy designed specifically to enable the life sciences enterprise to grow and flourish.


• Adopt a life-sciences education agenda for K-12 through graduate programs to ensure availability of trained and educated Washingtonians for tomorrow’s workforce.

Prior to Bioscience Day, WBBA invited leaders in life sciences and technology to discuss creating a comprehensive state bioscience plan for Washington State. This “kitchen cabinet” included representatives from the Washington Technology Center, Puget Sound Regional Council – Prosperity Partnership, Spokane Intercollegiate Research & Technology Institute, The Technology Alliance, The Life Sciences Discovery Fund, Explore Life, Advanced Imaging Technologies, enterpriseSeattle, VizX Labs, Institute for Systems Biology, Berlex, Economic Development Council of Snohomish County, Amgen, and WBBA. Every participant at the meeting agreed to serve on a steering committee to create a statewide life sciences plan. The group will meet again in February.

WBBA looks forward to working with the governor, the legislature and the “kitchen cabinet” to create and implement legislation that will encompass a comprehensive set of strategies and actions necessary to advance the life sciences in Washington.