Washington Global Health Fund

The mission of the Washington Global Health Fund is to accelerate the commercialization of global health technologies and expand the global health sector in Washington state.

Recognizing the region’s potential in this arena, in 2010 the Washington State Legislature created a new initiative called the Washington Global Health Fund to support economic development, fund promising ideas, foster new global health technologies, and enhance the state’s foothold in the field. Governor Christine Gregoire appointed a ten-person commission to oversee the fund and select the grantees. 

WGHF is continuing to seek funding partners to extend the reach and impact of the program. Check out the WGHF website for information about funding opportunities and  how to support the Fund.

Grantees

Grant applications  are carefully reviewed by the Board of Directors.  In the first two rounds of funding, applications were received from over 60 public and private organizations from across Washington and the global health technology sector.

2012 Grantees:

• Aseptica, Inc, established in 2001, is located in Port Orchard, WA.  Aseptica has developed a novel agent which can be used to disinfect catheters and other medical devices and will replace less effective products currently on the market. Catheter-caused infections are common in the developed and developing world and are extremely difficult to treat in low-resource settings.  WGHF is providing $100,000 in funds that will be matched by angel investors to create 4 jobs in manufacturing and distribution of their product. 
• SpringStar, Inc, established in 1998, is located in Woodinville, WA.  SpringStar specializes in effective, nontoxic and environmentally safe pest control products.  WGHF awarded SpringStar $75,000 to hire two staff to produce and market a Trap-N-Kill (TNK) product aimed at mosquitoes carrying dengue fever.  Dengue fever is widespread in developing countries and has reappeared in southern United States and has no treatment options.  The Lethal Ovitrap technology is exclusively licensed from the Department of Defense, a funding partner for this project.
• SIGN Fracture Care International, established in 1998, is located in Richland, WA.  SIGN designs and manufactures orthopaedic implants for use after traffic accidents, a leading cause of injury and death in the developing word. Their devices are used by surgeons in over 40 countries worldwide. WGHF awarded SIGN a $15,000 matching grant to hire staff to obtain FDA approval and ISO certification on two new devices: a pediatric nail and a hip plate.  This is the second grant WGHF has awarded to SIGN.  

2011 Grantees:

• SIGN Fracture Care International is a non-profit based in Richland, Washington that designs and manufactures orthopaedic implants for use after traffic accidents, a leading cause of mortality and disablement in the developing world. Their $150,000 grant created new jobs in their manufacturing plant.
• Cascade Designs, Inc, a market leader in outdoor and military water treatment devices, is located in Seattle, Washington and is developing a water treatment product for the developing world. Their product, combined with a 12-volt battery and salt treats 40,000 liters of drinking water.  The $150,000 provided by WGHF was used to hire sales and manufacturing staff to begin commercial production of the product.
• Mirador Biomedical is a Seattle, Washington based company that has developed an innovative low-cost, pressure sensing medical device to make health care procedures easier to perform and safer for the patient. WGHF has provided $150,000 to create manufacturing jobs focused on producing a pressure sensing device for the developing world. See how WGHF connected Mirador to SIGN, which resulted in new business opportunities.