HSSA Awards Grant to Seattle-Based Orlance, Inc. to Fund Growth in Spokane County

Spokane, Wash. — The Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane is pleased to announce a $250,000 grant award to Seattle-based Orlance, Inc. to catalyze their research, development and commercialization efforts, improve health and healthcare, create well-paying jobs, and power future economic growth in Spokane County.

"This was HSSA's first funding opportunity created specifically for entities wishing to relocate part of their operations to Spokane County", says HSSA Executive Director Erin Williams Hueter. We're pleased to have the opportunity to fund a business conducting some groundbreaking research and development on vaccinations. Not only are they adding a Regulatory and Clinical Specialist to their Spokane County team, they're leveraging their award and using a Spokane County based firm to conduct their clinical trials. We're pleased to see their focus on improving our health, creating well-paying jobs and dedication to future economic growth in Spokane County."

Orlance, Inc. brings with them federal grant dollars. "Orlance is very appreciative of HSSA Spokane's support for growing our company’s regulatory and clinical development team in Spokane. As we advance our needle-free and broadly protective influenza vaccine candidate into initial clinical trials, we know that Spokane’s high quality and efficient clinical research environment will be key to our program"' says Orlance CEO Kris Aalto. "We expect to also evaluate other vaccine and immunotherapy products in our pipeline—including candidates for fungal infections, hepatitis B, and various cancers—in Spokane as next programs under development utilizing our MACH-1 platform. In doing so, we aim to offer the region access to participation in the development and deployment of safer and more tolerable innovative treatments and further validate Spokane as a go-to destination for translational research within the biotechnology industry."

Like all Level One Research, Development and Commercialization Grant Recipients, Orlance will be eligible for a Level Two Grant of up to $750,000 once the work is completed on their first award.

HSSA is releasing new funding opportunities quarterly. Applications for Access to Care Grants are being accepted until October 15, 2026 at 5pm PST.

On December 1, 2026, HSSA will release the Request for Proposals for Research, Development and Commercialization in Spokane County's Bioscience Industry. Both Level One Awards of up to $250,000 and Level Two Awards of up to $750,000 will be made. A one to one match is required, and we hope to see another competitive field of applicants.
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