Infectious disease biomedical research

SBRI’s mission is to eliminate the world's most devastating infectious diseases through leadership in scientific discovery. Upholding SBRI values—including building scientific leadership, community collaboration, encouraging innovation and inspirational learning— advances our mission while supporting key LASER learning and advocacy goals.

SBRI leadership believes that the ability of the public to keep abreast of breaking scientific discoveries involves personally developing much stronger links between schools, media, outreach partners, local corporations, businesses and museums. This allows us to pass along the excitement SBRI has for new scientific solutions that will lift the global burden of disease. SBRI actively encourages the involvement of BioQuest and scientific staff in partnerships with schools, districts, State leaders and national funders that can champion local and statewide science education advancement and reform.

The commitment of SBRI to Washington State science education advocacy reflects an appreciation for the needs of science going forward: the scientific leaders of today who must be replaced by talented, compassionate successors. This next generation will carry on the research to combat the deadly infectious diseases on which SBRI has focused for nearly 33 years. Through SBRI’s 15+ year affiliation with the University of Washington, dozens of undergraduate graduate and post-doctoral students have had the opportunity to work and complete their education goals at SBRI. When high students from “grades 9 to 20” leave SBRI, they are veterans of a professional working environment committed to improving the lives of others, and their careers are advanced by their mentorship participation in SBRI outreach programs (both internal and with our esteemed colleagues).

Lastly, SBRI scientists, staff, and Board of Trustees have collaborated with the Washington State science education community to build our high school outreach portal BioQuest. By fulfilling its mission “to inspire and build a community that promotes science and global health,” BioQuest hastens the pace with which scientific discovery reaches high school students, teachers, as well as the general public.

SBRI routinely demonstrates its commitment to community science literacy and education. We engage people at all levels in their education and careers, from ninth graders to post-doctorate students, from to biotech leaders to legislators. We share our enthusiasm for global health by inviting people to SBRI for educational experiences and tours or by encouraging our leader to participate in Science FridayÒ and the local meetings of Science on Tap. Our dedication to “transparency” has enhanced State science education in these specific areas:

1. Promoting the importance of science education among the general public
Communicating Washington research and education milestones to thousands of Washingtonians in SBRI media opportunities (including Science on Tap, KUOW, World TB Day, local newspapers, Passport for Global Health Celebrations, Global Health 101 and SBRI collateral).

2. Seeking out new and diverse participants and or investors in science education
SBRI and the members of the Washington Global Health Alliance—including Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC), Infectious Disease Research Institute, PATH, Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle's Children's Hospital, University of Washington and Washington State University -- received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch a new, three-year educator professional development and curriculum project with four high-need high schools in Washington State (Toppenish, Cleveland, Clover Park and Evergreen). SBRI is honored that this BioQuest-led project represents the first Gates project funded by both the US Programs and Global Health arms.

3. Enabling and influencing others
SBRI actively encourages the involvement of BioQuest and scientific staff in partnerships with stakeholders that can champion local and statewide Science education advancement and reform. For example, BioQuest Director, Theresa Britschgi has served as a member of:

• The 2007-08 Washington State Board of Education’s Science Standards Panel
• The Seattle King County Workforce Development’s Life Skills Panel, charged with producing materials, resources and strategies to strengthen State’s project Life Sciences workforce needs.
• The Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association’s Comprehensive Bioscience Strategy Sub-Committee on Improving Education, Workforce and Public Understanding, charged with developing a comprehensive bioscience strategic plan for Washington State under Governor Gregoire.
• The Washington State Science System Planning Committee, compiling and responding to statewide Science WASL data in the form of the “Science Matters” proposal for the State Legislature.
• Governor Gregoire’s 2006 Australia Trade Mission, building partnership between Washington and Queensland science educators, legislators and businesses. This year SBRI will welcome 20 Queensland high school students in BioQuest programming.
• Co-organizer of the Life Science Education Advancement Partnership (LEAP) and its 2006 -07 summits. LEAP’s goal is to forge tighter alliances between education, industry and the local community.
• Co-Champion of the Education and Training team of the Life Sciences Team of the Prosperity Partnership, preparing 4 "action initiatives" for the state’s economic development strategy.
• Fostered mentoring skills in hundreds of SBRI scientists and staff in BioQuest and external programming.

4. Making enhancements to science education

Through the BioQuest mission to inspire and build a community that supports science and global health, SBRI scientists and staff deliver inquiry-based learning, relevant global health content and mentoring career opportunities to high school students, teachers and the general public. In 2007-08 BioQuest partnered with over 100 global health experts to inspire over 700 students to excel in science and mathematics, advance their career goals and encourage them to improve the lives of millions worldwide.