Gov. Gregoire addresses global health leaders - Governor encourages continued collaboration at summit

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2008

CLE ELUM � Gov. Chris Gregoire today addressed international health, business and community leaders at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce annual Leadership Conference to discuss the profound impact Washington state research has in the global health industry.

�Global health is a major industry in the region, and brings considerable benefits to our state�s economy,� Gregoire said. �We are crossing all boundaries to work together with innovation, imagination and inspiration. I want you to know that I�m excited about the work under way in Washington to ease suffering not just in our backyard but in Africa, Asia and the rest of the world.�

The governor discussed how business leaders can support global health to continue to drive economic growth to the region as well as improve the quality of life around the world. A recent University of Washington study shows that global health directly accounts for more than 3,600 jobs in this state, with an average wage of nearly $78,000.

Gregoire helped fund the new University of Washington Global Health Department last year. In 2005, Gregoire signed legislation that set up the Life Sciences Discovery Fund. The fund is aimed at putting Washington at the forefront of research to cure debilitating diseases and improve health care. It is a funding source for projects such as the development of a screening test for newborns at increased risk for type 1 diabetes, which will minimize the illness and reduce the staggering cost of treating the disease.

Also thanks to the Life Science Discovery Fund, clinical trials of new cancer drugs are being conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Work at the University of Washington to improve surgical quality at hospitals is also supported, as is a project at the Battelle Memorial Institute to identify blood biomarkers for the diagnosis of liver disease, cancer and diabetes.

The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce has organized the region�s annual Leadership Conference since 1988, bringing together Puget Sound�s key business, civic and elected leaders to address our most important challenges.