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:

• Commercialization grants support small-scale, highly targeted studies that move technologies along the commercialization pathway. Eligible applicants include Washington nonprofit institutions, organizations, and agencies. Among these are public and private universities, public health departments, public and private hospitals, and health systems and clinics. Partnerships among nonprofit and for-profit organizations, public and private organizations, and laboratory researchers and clinicians, as well as interdisciplinary collaborations are also eligible and encouraged to apply.
• PreCede grants fund research and development activities to help position early-stage Washington life sciences companies with commercially promising health-related technologies for equity investment funding. Applicants must be for-profit entities that have a substantial presence in Washington and have not received substantial equity investment. Nonprofit organizations and educational institutions may not apply directly for funding through this mechanism. 

In all of its competitions, 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.