Spokane Roundtable Highlights Risks of NIH Research Cuts

Last week, Life Science Washington hosted a roundtable in Spokane to spotlight the serious risks posed by proposed cuts to federal research funding. As covered in The Spokesman-Review, the event brought together leaders from across the region’s life sciences and health care sectors — including life science industry and academic leaders from Jubilant HollisterStier, UW School of Medicine, WSU, Providence, government leaders, and others.

Participants discussed how proposed NIH cuts, including to the SBIR program and indirect cost reimbursements, could eliminate jobs, shrink medical school classes, and stall the research that fuels innovation, investment, and patient care. Speakers emphasized that Spokane’s growing life sciences ecosystem, from research to workforce training to advanced manufacturing, depends on reliable federal support. As a region still building its capital base, Eastern Washington cannot afford to lose the public funding that powers its innovation pipeline.