Three Spokane Based Companies, One Seattle Based Company, and SRHD Receive HSSA Matching Grants for Bioscience Based Economic Development

Health Sciences and Services Authority of Spokane County (HSSA) is proud to announce the recipients of Matching Grants for bioscience based economic development approved at the October and November 2024 meetings of the Board of Trustees.

Precision Quantomics (PQ) was awarded a $294,540 HSSA matching grant after the WSU spinoff won a Phase 1 SBIR Award from the National Institute of Health. This award is particularly meaningful to HSSA as PQ Founder Dr. Bhagwat Prasad was recruited to the Spokane area in 2019 with a grant to WSU to recruit scientific faculty to the region who brought federal research dollars with them. Dr. Prasad has brought 5.2 million dollars in extramural follow-on funding to the region, had 62 scientific publications, and trained 7 Post Doctoral and 3 PhD students, 1 of whom received a federal grant of their own, during his time at WSU Spokane.

Even as Dr. Prasad plans a move out of the region, Precision Quantomics will live on in Spokane County adding staff here and working to decrease health disparities and improve health outcomes for underrepresented patient groups such as children, women, racial minorities, elderly individuals and disease specific populations.These groups have historically been excluded from drug testing, leading to unintended health disparities, including disproportionate occurrences of unforeseen adverse events and reduced efficacy of approved drugs. PQ’s work will change this.

Two other growing Spokane County based businesses received $250,000 matching grants from HSSA as well. Slate Dental’s HSSA matching grant will support their work creating a warehouse and fulfilment center where new jobs will be created in Spokane County while making improvements in oral health that are linked to other long term health concerns like Alzheimer’s Disease. Blaze Barrier's matching grant that will add staff to catalyze their work bringing their wildfire prevention product to market. In addition to immediate dangers, wildfires have created several significant health risks in our region including poor air quality, respiratory challenges and mental health concerns.

The Spokane Regional Health District also received a $47,500 HSSA matching grant to support their work on the Quality of Life Survey. Information collected in this report is used to determine and guide business and health priorities in the region.

Remmie Health is the recipient of the largest matching grant award in HSSA’s history at $1,250,000. The Seattle based company had received a $3,000,000 SBIR award from the National Institiute of Health and offers AI-powered ear-nose-throat (ENT) solutions to minimize unnecessary doctor visits and improve access to ENT specialists or accurate diagnosis. With a family digital otoscope and a telehealth-enabling app, users are guided by AI to record ENT medical history at home, stream real-time physical findings and examinations to telemedicine services, and receive clinical insights and prescriptions. Remmie will open a commercial service hub in downtown Spokane employing five new staffers who will all reside here in Spokane County.

“It is rewarding to see a growing life science company like Remmie Health choose to bring an important part of their work to Spokane County. This type of project recruitment was highlighted in another HSSA funded project, the Life Science Asset and Landscape Study commissioned by Greater Spokane Incorporated in 2023.” says HSSA Executive Director Erin Williams Hueter.

HSSA made two additional Grant Writing Assistance Micro Awards as well to Launchpad Inland Northwest and Precision Quantomics. These awards allow recipients to work with professional grant writing consultants to help bring federal grant dollars to Spokane County.

HSSA AWARDS $1,379,477 IN MATCHING GRANTS AND ADDITIONAL $448,432 IN ACCESS TO CARE GRANTS

Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County is proud to announce the recipients of Matching Grants for bioscience based economic development and Access to Care Grants approved at the December 2023 meeting of the Board of Trustees.

HSSA received an impressive eleven applications for various types of Matching Grants for bioscience based economic development totaling $4,485,043. Six Matching Grants were approved for awards totaling $1,379,477. The award recipients below had match from current grants from state and federal agencies, investors, as well as businesses and PDA's.

• Inherent Biosciences: Expansion of Male Fertility Diagnostic Business to Spokane, WA in Partnership with Allele Diagnostics ($250,000)
• ILB: Recovering Bioactive Compounds from Potato Peels and Byproducts for Promoting Human Health Benefits ($175,000)
• Managed Health Connections: Advanced Contingency Management System for Reduction of Alcohol Use ($499,890)
• Preveal Technologies, Inc: Feasibility Study of Incite Cognitive Improvement System ($137,275)
• Qualterra: Industrial Symbiosis 2 ($256,857)
• Spokane Public Library: StartUp Spokane Resource Toolbox ($60,455)

Additionally, HSSA received twenty-two applications for Access to Care Grants totaling $2,345,333. Eleven Access to Care Grants were approved for a total of $448,432. The purpose of Access to Care Grants is to provide better health and health care to people who are uninsured, under insured or at risk in Spokane County. The award recipients include:

• CHAS: Language Access is Healthcare Access ($42,331)
• Community Minded Enterprises: Expanding Access to Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and Services ($24,564)
• Hispanic Business Professionals Association: Esperanza ($50,000)
• Joya: Extended Pediatric Services Program ($67,500)
• Latinos En Spokane: Immigrant Healthcare Expansion in Spokane County ($30,000)
• Mujeres in Action: Behavioral Health Services to Immigrant Survivors of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence ($50,000)
• Partners with Families and Children: Children’s Advocacy Center Support for Child and Adolescent Victims of Abuse and Neglect ($55,297.50)
• Peer Spokane: Health through Housing for Spokane Residents ($38,730)
• Raze Development: Building a Behavioral Health Team for Early Intervention ($30,000)
• Shades of Motherhood Network: Long Term Sustainability through Billable Programming ($30,000)
• Spokane Prescription Assistance Network: Continuation of Programming ($30,000)

"The Board was very pleased to see a large pool of applicants for both matching grants for economic development, and for access to care grants. We had to make some tough decisions, but we look forward to seeing what this outstanding group of grantees will accomplish." says HSSA Board Chair, Dr. Francisco Velázquez.

HSSA of Spokane County promotes bioscience based economic development and advances new therapies and procedures to prevent disease and promote public health. Our priorities are: better health and health care in Spokane County, create well-paying jobs in Spokane County, and power future economic growth in Spokane County. Details about available grant opportunities and application deadlines can be found on our website hssaspokane.org.

​HSSA Announces Awards for its 2021 “Access to Care” Grant

Just in time for Christmas, HSSA's Board announces its 2021 Access to Care grant recipients. They are Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington ($19,250), Partners with Families and Children ($42,500), Spokane Prescription Assistant Network ($30,000), Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition ($29,250), and YWCA Spokane ($29,000).

The Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County has announced the organizations who will receive $150,000 in total grants in 2020 for the important access to health care work they do. HSSA said it received well over $780,000 in grant requests for its annual Access to Care grant, the highest amount ever requested.

HSSA also contributed $240,000 in March of this year for Covid-19 Relief grants to assist immediate needs related to the pandemic.

Following are the recipients of HSSA Access to Care grants for 2021:

Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington will receive a grant of $19,250 to for its Integrated Health Screening in Supportive Housing program. (Rob McCann, CEO, 509.358.4272).

Partners with Families and Children will receive $42,500 in 2021 to help it continue to meet the growing needs of our community’s most vulnerable population, children who are victims of physical and/or sexual abuse. (Carol Plischke, Executive Director, 509.473.4832).

Spokane Prescription Assistance Network will receive $30,000. It is one of the most cost-effective programs HSSA funds with a 18:1 return on investment. (Kelly Armstrong, MSW, 509.981.6420)

Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition will receive $29,250 to support effort to coalesce educational outreach and marketing on the subject of domestic violence. (Annie Murphey, 509.481.3522).

YWCA Spokane will receive from HSSA $29,000 of bridge funding for one year to maintain tele-heath infrastructure for electronic medical record and billing services, and to sustain a HIPAA-compliant Zoom platform, and purchase four laptops. (Jeanette Hauck, CEO, 509.789.9302).

“HSSA’s mission includes increasing access to care through innovative and collaborative health care delivery that serves Spokane County citizens, in addition to funding scientific research and infrastructure to grow the life sciences industry in Spokane,” said Nancy L. Isserlis, HSSA Board Chair.

HSSA’s grant competition helps to meet one of its strategic goals to increase access to health services in Spokane County for at risk populations and represents a fund of about 15 percent of annual revenues designated for this purpose. Funds amounting to $240,000 were provided early this year for immediate Covid-19 relief.

“HSSA provides resources to those organizations in our County who do the important work with people who might otherwise not receive health care services,” Isserlis said. “HSSA’s Access to Care grant program also helps fund solutions to particularly difficult complex health problems,” Isserlis said.

HSSA’s other strategic initiative is to increase local health sciences research and the infrastructure that supports it and designates 75 percent of its revenues for that purpose. In the latter case, the research grants are open year-round for proposals at any time, and HSSA has invested over $5 million in health science research and infrastructure grants to date. HSSA was successful in achieving reauthorization for 15 years in the last legislative session, thanks to local legislative leadership and local partners, Isserlis said.

Together with its Access to Care grants, the organization estimates that it has created over 500 jobs and over $100 million in total economic activity. This includes well over $35 million in extramural federal grant funding to Spokane.

HSSA Announces Annual "Access to Care" Grant Competition

The Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County has announced its annual “Access to Care” grant competition for non-profit and other organizations is open for 2020 grants. This grant competition seeks applicants who provide innovative and efficient health service delivery that increases access to health care for at risk populations.

The HSSA 2020 Access to Care Grant Competition will award up to $300,000 for one or more grants that durably increase the efficiency and efficacy of health delivery in Spokane County that measurably increases access to care for certain populations.

“HSSA’s mission is to invest in life and health sciences research and infrastructure to promote economic development and growth,” said Nancy L. Isserlis, Board Chair. “HSSA also invests in Access to Care grants to promote public health, which is this annual grant competition, and we have committed $2.5 million to these programs to date,” she said.

Here are key dates related to HSSA’s 2020 Access to Care grants:

RFP posted at: September 9, 2019

Letter of Intent due by 12 noon: September 30, 2019

Final Proposal due by 4PM: October 31, 2019

Awards Announced: December 20, 2019

Past recipients have included a successful program by Catholic Charities’ and the Empire Health Foundation called “Rising Strong”; Partners with Families and Children; Volunteers of America’s “Hot Spotters”; Spokane Prescription Assistance Network; Spokane Neighborhood Action Plan; Priority Spokane; Northeast Community Center’s Medical and Dental operations and youth counseling; Pioneer Human Services; YWCA mental health initiative, Providence Dental NE operatories, and others.

Applicants should submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) on the HSSA website at www.hssaspokane.orgunder the Grants tab. HSSA will provide a link to successful Applicants to use to submit a Final Proposal. HSSA will coordinate with Applicants directly, if required. If the LOI is selected, a Final Proposal would be due by October 25, 2019. In this Final Proposal, Applicants who have previously been funded by HSSA should list positive major outcomes from previous grants.

HSSA is credited with bringing $35 million in extramural grants to the Spokane region as every $1 of National Institutes for Health (NIH) funding accounts for another $1, creating $70 million alone by 2019 in economic activity. HSSA has invested about $5.8 million in research and infrastructure grants, and over $2.5 million in Access to Care grants, for a total direct investment of $8 million. The organization has contributed to date well over $100 million, an exciting return on investment.

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About HSSA:

The Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane Countywas established in 2007 for 15 years by the Washington legislature, authorized county-wide by Spokane County in 2008 and began operating in 2009. It was reauthorized by the Washington State Legislature in 2019 for an additional 15 years. Its mission is to invest in health sciences research to promote economic development, advance new therapies and procedures to combat disease, and to promote public health. HSSA invests funds to create and support a nationally competitive health sciences research cluster in Spokane County, and works to catalyze higher education research and the health sciences industry that will lead to higher wage jobs, long-term sustainability and economic diversification. For more information, visit our website at www.hssaspokane.orgor call 509.474.0798.

About Our Board:

Nancy Isserlis, Attorney, Winston & Cashatt and HSSA Board Chair; Michael Wilson, Consultant and HSSA Grants Committee Chair; Jason Thackston, Senior Vice President of Energy Resources, Avista Corp. and HSSA Finance Committee Chair; Ph.; Scott Gordon, Ph.D. Provost, Eastern Washington University; Kevin Oldenburg, Ph.D., President, 2^ndSight Bioscience; Darryl Potyk, M.D., UW/GU Regional Director of Medical Education; David J. Vachon, Ph.D., CEO/Founder, Iasis Molecular Sciences/Novion Technologies, and Dr. Francisco Velàzquez, former President & CEO, PAML and PAML Ventures.

Allele Dx, Iasis Molecular & Photon Bioscience receive funding this summer

HSSA's Board has been busy, granting almost $875,000 to three local health science research firms over the summer of 2019. Here is an introduction to these companies.

Allele Diagnostics, Inc. Marcelo Morales, President & CEO

HSSA has matched a federal SBIR Phase I grant to Allele Diagnostics by providing $222,840 for the development of rapid genetic testing of congenital heart defects. This funding followed a small HSSA grant that allowed Allele to receive professional grant-writing support from for its submission to NIH for the larger grant HSSA recently matched. Rapid results are important for medical management of congenital heart defects diagnosis and treatment that helps guide surgical decisions. This test will be intended for patients with a congenital heart defect either diagnosed prenatally or at birth when a rapid genetic diagnosis is important. The first phase funding will allow the project to be completed in the fall of 2019, improve the robustness of the verification study by adding additional sample and experiments, and start the process of commercialization and marketing. Allele is already working on a submitting a SBIR Phase II grant application by early September, which the HSSA funding allows. Otherwise the next opportunity to apply would be in April 2020. Allele’s research and commercialization will continue in Spokane.

Iasis Molecular Sciences David J. Vachon, Ph.D, Founder

Iasis Molecular Sciences received a grant of $500,000 from HSSA ‘s SBIR matching grant program that matches a grant from the Congressional Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) for the development of a next generation catheter. This award targets catheter-associated urinary tract infections, the most prevalent of the health care-associated infections (HAIs). Iasis Molecular Sciences have evolved to address the HAI problem from a systems standpoint, and in the process become an infection-prevention and control materials solution company. The proposed research has the potential to improve outcomes for both military and civilian populations while reducing costs. The focus is to ensure that surfaces inside and around patients are free of, or able to fend off microorganisms that can cause infection. In the U.S., it is estimated that 1 in 25 hospitalized patients will contract a healthcare-associated infection. More research, clinical trials and funding will be required to take these products to market, Vachon said, before commercialization may occur.

Photon Biosciences, LLC James Brozik, Co-Founder, CTO, ChulHee Kang, Co-Founder, CTO, Chandima Bandaranayaka, CEO

Photon Biosciences, a startup company from Pullman, has moved to Spokane with the help of HSSA. Photon’s scientists have been researching and developing a non-photobleaching and non-photoblinking luminescent probe for disease detection and biomolecular imaging. Its phosphorescent probe is named RECAL®.

HSSA has provided $150,000 in funds that match a federal grant Photon Biosciences recently received that established a laboratory in the Spokane University District. The company is nearing commercialization, and its product has the potential to supplant much of the fluorescent protein, organic chromophore and quantum dot-based technologies that currently dominate the market and will enable many tasks that are currently not possible or practical. Biochemistry, biophysics, food safety, medical diagnostics and homeland security are some potential areas of application. Photon Biosciences has identified likely partners and sublicensees for development of the technology, and plans are to manufacture and sell products from Spokane.

HSSA Announces 2019 $300,000 "Access to Care" Grant Competition

“Tom” had visited the three Hospital Emergency Department in the city of Spokane 176 times last year and as a result was referred to the “Hot Spotters” program, according to Stephen Miller, Volunteers of America adult services director. "The Hot Spotters program (funded by a grant from Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County) works with over utilizers of our emergency services and connects them to the appropriate care for the health issues they are dealing with. As a result of Hot Spotters and its collaboration with over twenty other agencies, Tom has only visited the emergency room four times in 2018 and all for legitimate health concerns. Multiply that 176 visits by the average cost of an ER visit, and you get a sense of the phenomenal amount of money and ER resources that are being saved by this innovative program. Hot Spotters connects people like Tom to primary care doctor, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, housing and numerous other services," said Miller.

“It happens much too often in our community and across the nation, said Miller.

We simply could not keep up with the caseload we experience without the assistance of the HSSA and the cost to the community would continue to rise,” Miller recently said. “If not in emergency costs at our hospitals, then in jail costs.”

One of the most cost effective programs HSSA funds is the Spokane Prescription Assistance Network that has provided more than $17 million in donated prescribed pharmaceuticals to those who otherwise cannot afford their medications, for a 28 to 1 return on investment, says Kelly Armstrong, SPAN Executive Director.

The Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA)of Spokane County is announcing that its annual “Access to Care”grant competition to non-profit and other organizations is open for its 2019 grants. This grant seeks applicants who provide innovative health service delivery and increased access to health care to at risk populations.

The HSSA RFP #14 2019 – Access to Care grant will award up to $300,000 for one or more grants that durably increase the efficiency of health service delivery and that increases access to health care for at risk populations in Spokane County.

Last year, HSSA funded $380,000 to five recipients through its annual “Access to Care” grant, including Volunteers of America mentioned above. Also receiving HSSA grants in 2018 were Catholic Charites/Empire Health Foundation for the “Rising Strong” family-centered treatment and housing project. Partners with Families and Children, the Providence dental program for equipment to serve low income patients, and Spokane Prescription Assistance also were funded.

“HSSA’s mission includes increasing access to health care through innovative and collaborative health care delivery in Spokane County, as well as to improve the capacity of the Spokane region to contribute to advances in health sciences research,” said Nancy L. Isserlis, HSSA Board Chair.

Here are key dates related to HSSA RFP #14 2019 “Access to Care”Grant applicant proposals for funding:

RFP posted date: August 30, 2018

Letter of intent due by 12 noon: September 28, 2018

Final Proposal due by 4 pm: October 25, 2018

Awards announcement: November 30, 2018

Applicants should submit a letter of intent (LOI) on the HSSA website at www.hssaspokane.orgunder the Grants tab and Access to Care. HSSA will acknowledge receipt and for those Applicants who meet HSSA criteria, HSSA will provide a link for the Applicant to use to submit a full proposal. This should expedite the process. HSSA also will coordinate directly with the applicants, if necessary. If the LOI is selected, a full proposal would be due via the HSSA website by 4 pm on October 25, 2018. In addition to the normal requirements of applicants, past recipients should reference in the current proposal the major outcomes in past HSSA grants.

HSSA’s grant competition helps to meet one of its strategic goals to increase access to health services in Spokane County for at risk populations, and represents a fund of about 15 percent of annual revenues designated for this purpose.

“To date we have awarded $2 million in this category, providing resources to those organizations in our County who do the important work with people who otherwise would not receive health care services or would seek these services from the area’s emergency rooms and other expensive options,” Isserlis said. “Some end up incarcerated at taxpayers’ expense, so one of HSSA’s intents is to decrease costs while improving health care services,” Isserlis said.

HSSA’s other strategic initiative is to increase local health sciences researchand the infrastructure that supports it, and designates 75 percent of its revenues for that purpose. In the latter case, the research grants are open year-roundfor proposals at any time, and HSSA has invested $5 million to date in health science research grants.

Together with its Access to Care grants, the organization estimates that it has created a total of 450 jobs and $70 million in total economic activity. This includes approximately $20 million in extramural federal grant funding to Spokane. More information about all HSSA grants may be found at www.hssaspokane.org.

HSSA Announces $380,000 “Access to Health Care” 2018 Recipients

The Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County announced it will fund $380,000 for five (5) community recipients of its annual “Access to Care” grant competition in 2018. The organizations that were selected provide innovative health service delivery and increased access to health care to certain populations.

“HSSA’s mission includes increasing access to health care through innovative and collaborative health care delivery in Spokane County, as well as its on-going efforts to improve the capacity of the Spokane region in health sciences research,” said Nancy L. Isserlis, HSSA Board Chair.

“HSSA received 13 grant proposals totaling over $1.2 million, which certainly speaks to community need and innovation presented in these proposals,” she said.

The 2018 recipients of HSSA’s “Access to Care” grant competition are as follows:

• Empire Health Foundation/Catholic Charities Spokane “Rising Strong” will receive $100,000 from HSSA for its family-centered treatment with housing for families at risk of child removal due to parental alcohol and substance use disorder. Rising Strong will provide housing, recovery coaching, behavioral treatment and evidence-based programs for the entire family.
• Partners with Family & Children will receive $50,000 in 2018 to continue its mission to address the specialty child abuse needs for a growing number of children who suffer from physical and/or sexual child abuse, as well as conduct training for new medical personnel.
• Providence Health Care Foundation will receive $100,000 to establish on-site dental care for low income populations with clinics at Sacred Heart and Holy Family hospitals. Nearly 3,600 dental patients presented to Providence in 2015 for treatment. HSSA’s funding will be used for dental equipment purchased to outfit operatories at Sacred Heart.
• Spokane Prescription Assistance Network will receive $30,000 to make available prescription drugs for moderate income under-insured people on Medicare and other insurance plans with high deductibles and co-pays. This is the only organization in Spokane dedicated to providing expertise in accessing prescribed mediation on a community-wide basis and claims an $18 to $1 return on investment for its funders, including HSSA.
• Volunteers of America (VOA) Hot Spotters program will receive $100,000 to provide improved health outcomes for high-need residents who often present to emergency departments, emergency responders, community court system and mental health providers with a complex blend of social, medical, mental health and/or substance abuse matters, sometimes referred to as “hot spotters” for the frequency of their high cost visits to providers.

“We have now awarded nearly $1.9 million in Access to Care grants in our County to organizations who do the important work with people who otherwise would not receive health care services or would seek these services from other expensive options,” Isserlis said.

HSSA’s other strategic initiative is to increase local health sciences research and the infrastructure that supports it, and designates 75 percent of its revenues for that purpose. Research grants are open year-round for proposals who meet HSSA criteria in one of its research categories. HSSA has invested nearly $5 million to date in health science research and infrastructure grants. This includes over $20 million in extramural federal grant funding to Spokane. More information about all HSSA grants may be found at www.hssaspokane.org.

HSSA Awards $300,000 to Partners, SNAP, Spokane Prescription Assistance & VOA

HSSA announced today that its Board has awarded $300,000 among four Spokane area non-profits who provide innovative and collaborative heath care delivery in Spokane County. View more here.

HSSA Awards $235,000 for Annual 2016 “Access to Care” Grants

SPOKANE, WA – The Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County recently announced that it has awarded a total of nearly $235,000 in one-year grants to increase access to health care for certain populations in Spokane County. These grants were in response to HSSA 2016: ‘Access to Care’ Grant Competition #11 that is intended to Increase Access to Health Care in Spokane County through Innovative and Collaborative Health Service Delivery.

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Salah Ahmed is invested in Spokane

JOINED WSU SPOKANE IN 2014:
“I came to WSU Spokane because it looks like the perfect environmental to collaborate with clinicians in the neighboring medical institutes, and medicinal chemists and pharmacologists on campus.”

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