Life Science Washington member companies know that discoveries happening in our state today will shape the cures of tomorrow. That progress depends on steady support from programs like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
We are working with our sibling state life science associations and the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) to make sure Congress understands how important these investments are for patients, for researchers, and for the economy. See our letter to Congressional leaders urging their support for continuing the SBIR and STTR programs here.
Taking the Message to Congress
Last week, LSW’s Public Affairs Manager Curtis Knapp, had the opportunity to bring this message directly to the offices of Representative Suzan DelBene, Representative Marilyn Strickland, and Representative Rick Larsen during a tour of the Bristol Myers Squibb manufacturing facility in Bothell. These conversations helped highlight how programs like NIH and SBIR and STTR directly connect to local jobs, innovation, and patient care in Washington.
Why NIH Funding Matters
The Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced a $48.7 billion investment in NIH funding for next year, which is a $400 million increase. These funds drive medical research across the country and here in Washington State. Universities, research centers, and hospitals rely on NIH support to keep labs open, train young scientists, and move forward with groundbreaking projects.
Without strong NIH funding, the United States risks falling behind countries such as China, which are investing heavily in research with the goal of taking the lead in biotechnology. Protecting NIH means protecting America’s ability to stay at the forefront of lifesaving science.
Why SBIR and STTR Reauthorization Matters
We are also urging Congress to extend the SBIR and STTR programs before they expire this September. For more than forty years, these programs have been the largest source of early-stage funding for startups. Many promising Washington companies got their start with SBIR or STTR awards.
These grants help more than the individual companies that receive them. They attract investors, strengthen partnerships with universities, and move discoveries more quickly from labs into real treatments for patients. Even a short lapse would stall that progress and weaken the predictability of critical early funding for our life science economy.
What This Means for Washington
Across our state, NIH and SBIR and STTR funds are supporting scientists, students, and entrepreneurs as they take on important research. These programs help early ideas move forward and give small companies a chance to grow into the kinds of businesses that bring new treatments to patients.
Life Science Washington will continue to advocate for adoption of the Senate’s proposed NIH funding level and for timely extension of SBIR and STTR. These programs are more than budget items. They provide the steady support that research institutions and startups need to keep making progress that benefits Washington families and communities.
Have questions, comments, or concerns about these bills or any other pending legislation? Get in touch with LSW’s Public Affairs Manager, Curtis Knapp.