Overview

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) provides funding opportunities to advance life sciences research and development and outcomes in Washington. LSDF's grantmaking opportunities are designed to leverage the state's investment in research and development by achieving three goals:

• promoting health;
• making the life sciences sector more competitive; and
• strengthening Washington's economy.

LSDF currently offers two different types of granting mechanisms for both for-profit and non-profit organizations in Washington (check the Request for Proposals for specific eligibility criteria and additional details):

• Proof of Concept grants to enhance the commercial viability of intellectual property developed by non-profit organizations or enhance the competitiveness of early-stage companies for private equity investment. (This grant mechanism combines the Commercialization and PreCede mechanisms offered in prior years.)
• Opportunity grants to fund extraordinary research and development proposals having the ability to significantly leverage LSDF dollars against those invested contemporaneously by other sources.

In all of its grant programs, LSDF advances its primary goals by evaluating proposals according to a consistent set of general criteria:

• scientific and technical merit;
• health benefits that will accrue to Washington; and
• potential economic gains promoted by the research.

Grant agreements establish timelines and milestones to achieve outcomes. During and after the grant period, recipients provide detailed reports that permit evaluation of LSDF's awards programs.