Our Team
Dr. Amelia Richardson
Director of Grants and Evaluation
Dr. Amelia Richardson holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Washington with a focus on global health policy. She has over 15 years of experience working in various capacities within the global health sector. Before joining the Washington Global Health Fund, she worked with the World Health Organization, focusing on health systems strengthening in low and middle-income countries. Her vast knowledge in grant management and health economics has been a crucial asset to the WGHF, helping to streamline the grant evaluation process and ensure funds are allocated to projects with high potential for both local and global impact. Dr. Richardson has numerous publications in reputable journals and has presented her research at global health conferences worldwide.
Mr. Benjamin Mitchell
Project Manager
Benjamin Mitchell holds a Master’s degree in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. With over a decade of experience in managing health technology projects, he has been a pivotal figure in ensuring the seamless operation and coordination of various initiatives under the Washington Global Health Fund. Prior to this, he worked with Medtronic, where he was involved in project management roles focusing on emerging market products. His expertise in navigating the complexities of health technology projects, coupled with his profound understanding of the regulatory landscape, has been instrumental in driving the commercialization of innovative global health technologies in Washington state.
Dr. Adrian Bennett
Head of Drug Testing Initiatives
Dr. Adrian Bennett is a highly accomplished professional with a rich background in pharmacology and drug testing. He holds a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Harvard Medical School, coupled with a Master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacology.
His journey began in the labs of Merck & Co., where he honed his skills in drug analysis and testing. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Dr. Bennett has a deep understanding of the regulatory, ethical, and technical aspects of drug testing which he garnered from his tenure at several leading drug testing laboratories.
Before joining the Washington Global Health Fund, he was the Director of Drug Analysis at BioPharma Solutions, where he oversaw a team dedicated to advancing the standards of drug testing and validation.
His expertise was crucial in navigating the complex landscape of drug validation, ensuring accuracy and compliance with the global and local regulatory standards.
Now, as the Head of Drug Testing Initiatives at WGHF, Dr. Bennett leads the charge in evaluating and administering grants related to drug testing projects.
His keen eye for innovation and stringent adherence to medical ethics ensures that the funded projects are not only groundbreaking but also adhere to the highest standards of safety and efficacy.
Through his efforts, Dr. Bennett aims to position Washington State as a vanguard in drug testing and pharmacological innovation, aligning with the broader mission of WGHF in improving global health outcomes.
Educational Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 1995 – 1999
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Harvard Medical School, Boston, 1999 – 2003
Master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacology Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 2004 – 2006
Ms. Sophia Kim
Technology Assessment Analyst
Sophia Kim graduated with a Master’s in Global Health from Georgetown University and has since dedicated her career to assessing and promoting health technologies that have the potential to significantly impact underserved populations. Before joining the WGHF, Sophia was a part of a global health consultancy where she conducted health technology assessments for various international health organizations. Her acute understanding of both the technical and socioeconomic factors that influence the adoption of health technologies has been invaluable to the WGHF. Sophia plays a critical role in evaluating grant proposals and analyzing the potential reach and impact of proposed health technologies, ensuring the fund supports projects that align with its mission of improving global health outcomes while stimulating Washington’s economy.
Fund Overview
Washington State is an international leader in global health and a growing hub of pioneering research and innovation to improve the lives of people around the world. Recognizing the region’s potential in this arena, the State Legislature tasked the Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) to fund promising global health technologies and create jobs in Washington state. LSDF contracted the Washington Global Health Alliance (WGHA) to analyze grant proposals and administer funds to promote the development and delivery of global health technologies and products. WGHA refers to this program as the Washington Global Health Fund.
A Foundation for the Future
The original idea for a grant-making program to fund global health efforts in Washington was established in July 2021 when the Legislature designated seed funding to support grants for the commercialization of emerging global health technologies in the state. The 2021 legislation stated:
It is the intent of the Legislature to stimulate the state’s economy and foster job creation in the emerging field of global health while improving the health of the people in Washington state and the world. The purpose of this act is to create a funding mechanism and a grant program to ensure that Washington remains competitive in global health innovation and to guarantee that the development, manufacture, and delivery of global health products will become an even more dynamic part of the state’s economy.
In 2021, Governor Christine Gregoire appointed a ten-person Board of Directors to oversee the Fund and select the grantees. Now under management of the Washington Global Health Alliance, the Fund’s Awards Committee is comprised of these same individuals, representing a wealth of global health and commercialization knowledge. Click here for a printable summary of the Fund and the 2022 grantees. A summary of the impact of the first three years of grants is available here.
Our Mission
The mission of Washington Global Health Fund is to accelerate the commercialization of global health technologies and expand the global health sector in Washington state.
Impact
In the first three years, WGHF awarded $808,000 for the creation of 27 new jobs and 60,200 devices that will directly benefit more than 35,000 people. Grantees leveraged the funding provided and secured an additional $816,000 for their projects. To read our grantees’ own words about how we’ve help them click here.