Life Science Washington

Last week, we brought together leaders from biotech, technology, research, and investment communities for an insightful discussion on The AI Toolkit for Life Sciences — Platforms, Applications, and Impact.🤖

Our speakers discussed how AI tools are being implemented across research, drug discovery, lab operations, and beyond, as well as how organizations can prepare for and use AI effectively.

The conversation wrapped up with a Q&A and a simple task for attendees: try an AI tool this week and see what it can do. Speakers shared a few tools to explore and encouraged everyone to experiment and discover how they might fit into their own work.

Thank you to our speakers for such an engaging conversation and to everyone who joined us for the discussion and networking reception! Also, thank you to Pfizer for sponsoring this event and Seattle Children's for hosting us.

The East-West Life Science Summit 2026 is coming up soon!⌚ We’re excited to start introducing the panels you’ll hear from on October 6 in Spokane.

Join us for The Power of the Right Network: Insights from Executives and Investors on Building an Early-Stage Company, where these accomplished entrepreneurs and investors will share firsthand perspectives on building companies, raising capital, developing partnerships, and navigating the challenges of growth. This candid conversation will explore how the right connections can open doors, unlock resources, build strategic partnerships, and help early-stage ventures move forward.

Featured speakers:
Leen Kawas, CEO, EIT Pharma, Inc. & Managing General Partner, Propel Bio Partners
Tae Han, Co-Founder ProfoundBio
Jane Zhang, Founder & CEO, Remmie Health
Frank Yin, Investment Associate, Washington Research Foundation
Moderated by: Elizabeth Cross Nichol, Program & Grants Manager, LSW Entrepreneurship & Venture Services

🎟️ Register today to hear this insightful panel: https://lifesciencewa.org/events/east-west-life-science-summit-2026/

Stay tuned for more panel introductions!

Looking for the right NCI funding opportunity for your life science company or research?
Join Life Science Washington on September 29 from 12–1PM for a virtual informational session with the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Hear from NCI SBIR Development Center Program Directors Jonathan Franca-Koh and William Bozza as they provide an overview of SBIR, the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program, Strategic Breakthrough Awards, and how to identify the programs that best fit your needs.

Stephen Eacker, CEO of CytoTerra Inc., will also share his experience navigating NCI grant funding, while speakers will offer practical tips for preparing competitive applications.

The session is especially relevant for those considering the January 5, 2027 NIH SBIR/STTR CRP funding opportunity.

Register today➡️ https://lifesciencewa.org/events/navigating-nci-funding-opportunities-and-application-tips/

Don’t miss this free opportunity to hear directly from NCI experts and strengthen your next application!

Seattle biotech startup BrainChild Bio has raised $116M to advance an experimental CAR-T therapy for pediatric brain cancer. 🧠

The Series A financing from Seattle Children's and WRF Capital (the investment vehicle for Washington Research Foundation) will support a pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial of the therapy, which is being developed to treat diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a deadly form of childhood brain cancer.

Read more: https://lifesciencewa.org/2026/09/15/brainchild-bio-masterminds-116m-series-a-to-advance-car-t-therapy-for-pediatric-brain-cancer/

BrainChild Bio Masterminds $116M Series A to Advance CAR-T Therapy for Pediatric Brain Cancer | Life Science Washington Seattle biotech startup BrainChild Bio has raised $116M in Series A financing from Seattle Children’s and new investor WRF Capital, to advance its pivotal

AI is reshaping the life sciences – but what tools are driving the transformation?🧬
Join us on September 17 from 4–6PM for The AI Toolkit for Life Sciences: Platforms, Applications, and Impact, where industry leaders from biotech, technology, research, and investment will explore how AI is being applied across data analysis, drug discovery, and R&D, and what it takes to evaluate, implement, and scale these tools.

Panelists will share practical examples of implementation, lessons learned, considerations for adoption, and where they see the greatest opportunities for impact.

Speakers include:
Andrew Middlecamp, AI Strategy Lead in Portfolio & Innovation, Pfizer
Scott Boyken, Co-founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Outpace Bio
Jonathan Carlson, VP & Managing Director, Microsoft For Health Futures
Lindsay Pino, Co-founder & CTO, Talus Bio

Whether your organization is exploring AI for the first time or expanding existing capabilities, this session will provide practical insights to help navigate the next generation of scientific innovation.

🔗Register today: https://lifesciencewa.org/events/the-ai-toolkit-for-life-sciences-platforms-applications-and-impact/

Hosted by: Seattle Children's Research Institute

3 Seattle science powerhouses join forces to advance AI-designed biology. 🧬
The Allen Institute, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and the University of Washington - UW Medicine are launching AI BioDesign, a $95M initiative combining AI and experimental biology to engineer new biomolecules that don’t exist in nature and accelerate the development of new treatments for disease.

Learn more: https://lifesciencewa.org/2026/09/08/ai-learns-natures-code-allen-institute-uw-and-fred-hutch-launch-95m-open-science-initiative/

AI Learns Nature’s Code: Allen Institute, UW and Fred Hutch Launch $95M Open Science Initiative | Life Science Washington Three of Seattle’s top scientific institutions, Allen Institute, University of Washington, and Fred Hutch Cancer Center, are launching AI BioDesign,

The East-West Life Science Summit is coming up, and it’s time to register! 📣 Join us in Spokane on October 6 for an innovation-focused day of engaging discussions, meaningful connections, and insights from the state’s top life science leaders across industry, academia, and government.

This year’s Summit will feature:
» WSU leadership discussing research & partnership opportunities
» Washington’s $180M Rural Health Transformation Fund priorities
» University-industry partnerships connecting students to jobs
» A new LSW, HSSA, & LaunchPad INW partnership supporting Spokane entrepreneurs
» Investors & experienced entrepreneurs sharing insights on building a successful company

Whether you’re looking to learn, build partnerships, expand your network, or discover new opportunities, you won't want to miss this chance to hear from and connect with the people & ideas driving Washington’s life sciences industry forward.

Register today: https://lifesciencewa.org/events/east-west-life-science-summit-2026/

🎟️ Bonus: The first 50 registrants who are Spokane-based LSW members will be entered to win a free plane ticket to attend our upcoming Strategic Investor Spotlight or Executive Insights Series Networking Event!

Sponsors: Washington State University, Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA), Greater Spokane Incorporated, VWR, part of Avantor

Seattle's position as a top life sciences hub and America's leadership in life sciences is at risk if the U.S. doesn’t move quickly to make the investments and policy reforms necessary to compete with countries like China.

That was the common thread running through the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB)’s Seattle Roadshow hosted by Arzeda and Life Science Washington earlier this week.

Life Science Washington President & CEO Marc Cummings led a panel of biotech leaders to discuss what the Commission’s report means here at home: while Washington state has the research, talent and manufacturing expertise to help the U.S. maintain its global biotech leadership, future discoveries and economic growth are at risk of moving overseas.

The report's findings warn that falling behind means Americans could lose access to the medicines they need. The Commission’s action plan calls for at least $15 billion in federal investment over five years to mobilize private capital, with an approach that would:
– Foster competition without picking winners
– Counter competitors’ economic tactics
– Streamline regulations for biotech innovation
– Position the U.S. to continue leading in biotech

This is an important topic for our region and across the country – thank you to the NSCEB for bringing this important discussion to Seattle. We look forward to continuing the conversation.

Read the full “Charting the Future of Biotechnology” for more: https://www.biotech.senate.gov/final-report/chapters/executive-summary/
And learn more about the visit here: https://lifesciencewa.org/2026/09/01/life-science-washington-hosts-national-security-commission-on-emerging-biotechnology-nsceb-in-seattle/

Join us this fall for our next Executive Insights Series session, focused on navigating early-stage partnerships and collaborations in life sciences.🤝

Strategic partnerships are essential for accelerating innovation and bridging the gap between scientific discovery and commercialization. This session offers the opportunity to hear from industry leaders Charity Williams, Partner at Cooley LLP, and Jie D'Elia, Former CEO of SystImmune, as they share insights on navigating early-stage partnerships and collaborations.

The conversation will cover:
▪️ Strategies for identifying and securing collaborations
▪️ Real-world examples and lessons from successful deals
▪️ Tips for preparing, negotiating, and managing partnerships

Stick around after the panel to connect with our speakers and network with fellow life sciences executives, founders, and innovators. Build connections that could help accelerate your partnership strategies – you won’t want to miss this!

Register here: https://lifesciencewa.org/.../executive-insights-series.../

What does it take to build a team of future scientific leaders who foster the discovery of tomorrow’s treatments?

Mary Jo Phoenix, Vice President of Analytical Development and Quality Control at Lundbeck US in Bothell, reflects on her career in Washington and how mentorship and a commitment to patients continue to shape her work.

Read more: https://lifesciencewajobs.com/2026/08/26/executive-perspective-cultivating-scientific-excellence-at-lundbeck/