February 7, 2025

Life Science Washington

Life Science Washington, the state’s life sciences industry association, announced the expansion of its board of directors with the addition of nine new members, representing leaders from across the state’s top life sciences and technology companies. Life Science Washington’s newly elected board members include: Kamran Ansari, senior vice president, head of clinical development & operations, Pfizer Oncology Division; Jeff Cohen, senior vice president and general manager, Philips Ultrasound; Eric Dobmeier, venture partner, Samsara BioCapital; Yves Leurquin, CEO, Inventprise; Snehal Patel, executive vice president and chief technical officer, Sana Biotechnology; Chris Preti, CEO & president, Jubilant HollisterStier; Kathleen Sullivan, senior director, strategy & operations, Microsoft Research Health Futures; Eric Tham, MD, senior vice president and chief research operations officer, Seattle Children’s Research Institute; and Christina Yi, COO and Seattle site head, Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The addition of these board members is an important step in the continued growth of Washington’s $38.8 billion life sciences industry, a top 10 life sciences cluster in the U.S. In the last year, the region garnered a total of $2.6 billion in mergers and acquisitions and investment activity across 37 deals. Life Science Washington’s new board represents many of the companies leading these expansions and acquisitions. Pfizer is now the state’s largest life sciences company, while Philips Ultrasound is Washington’s largest medical device company. After its current expansion is complete, Jubilant HollisterStier will be the largest manufacturer in Spokane. Sana Biotechnology and Vertex Pharmaceuticals represent the region’s leadership in cell and gene therapy, while Inventprise reflects Washington’s roots in global health and vaccines. Additionally, Seattle Children’s Research Institute is now one of the top five children’s research institutes in the country. Dobmeier is a longtime biotech leader who previously served as an executive at two of Washington’s most successful biotech companies, Seagen and Chinook Therapeutics. Life Science Washington connects its members to each other and to funding, talent, partners and essential business services and elevates the industry by promoting policies that strengthen the environment for ground-breaking research and product development.