In the News

KING 5 News, April 8, 2009
Painting for cancer
His mother was diagnosed with cancer. Now, a local painter is using his skills to help search for a cure. KING 5's Eric Wilkinson has the story.

KING 5 News, August 16, 2008
Tacoma athletes promote diabetes awareness
Four Tacoma teens are proving that diabetes doesn't have to stop you from becoming an athlete.  They want to motivate other kids with the disease, while they help researchers find a cure. 

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 21, 2008
Pair of blind triathletes share dedication to research cause
Even blind, Barb Oswald knows a good cause when she finds one.  Ditto John Upthegrove.  Both took part in Seafair Sunday's Benaroya Research Institute Triathlon.

Diabetes Forecast, American Diabetes Association, June 2008
When Good T-Cells Go Bad
Every once in a while, the systems that protect us from infection and disease go wrong.  When that happens, they can mistake the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas for something else entirely and attack--ravaging those cells and preventing them from producing the insulin the body needs.  The result is Type 1 diabetes.  With a grant from the American Diabetes Association, William Kwok, PhD, an immunologist based at the Benaroya Research Institute at Seattle's Virginia Mason Hospital and Medical Center, is leading a lab full of researchers in a search for the causes of this potentially deadly mix-up.

Medical News Today, June 3, 2008
Leading Immunologists Convene in Boston
Over a thousand scientists and clinicians will convene to present new advances in understanding and treating immune-mediated diseases at FOCIS 2008, the 8th annual meeting of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS), June 5-9 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.  Jerry Nepom, MD, PhD, Director of the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, is president of FOCIS. 

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 26, 2008
Researchers eye new weapon in allergy war
Using a $5.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Dr. William Kwok of BRI and Dr. David Robinson of the Virginia Mason Asthma and Allergy Clinic are studying cells from people allergic to such things as cat dander, tree and grass pollen, peanuts and mold.

Puget Sound Business Journal, April 18, 2008
"Life Sciences Discovery Fund Allots $22M in grants"
Five Washington Health research organizations have received $22 million in funding from the sate's Life Sciences Discovery Fund.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 17, 2008
"State awards $22 million in life sciences grants"
A state fund tasked with distributing $350 million in tobacco settlement money to support life sciences research in Washington made its first official outlay Thursday afternoon, distributing $22 million in grants among five programs.

Puget Sound Business Journal, February 18, 2008:
" Benaroya Research Institute gets $5.3M grant to study allergies "
The grant from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will be given to William Kwok and Dr. David Robinson of the Virginia Mason Asthma and Allergy Clinic.

Puget Sound Business Journal, December 3, 2007:
" $9.4M goes to Benaroya for autoimmune work "
The Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason Medical Center has landed another multimillion-dollar grant, this one for $9.4 million, as it continues to focus research and clinical trials on solving the riddle of autoimmune diseases.

Puget Sound Business Journal, October 22, 2007:
" Battlefield medicine "
Seattle's Benaroya Research Institute, known for its work on diabetes and autoimmune disorders, is taking on a new field of science: battlefield medicine.

Seattle Woman, October, 2007:
" Investigating Autoimmune Disease "
Jane Buckner, MD, Research Director at Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, was interviewed on autoimmune research in an article titled "Investigating why women are more prone to autoimmune diseases" in the October issue of the magazine.

Seattle Post Intelligencer, June 7, 2007:
" Seattle at forefront for Type 1 diabetes research "
Rates here are growing -- and no one knows why.

KING 5 News, May 14, 2007:
" Cancer drug might help stop Type 1 diabetes "
Twelve-year-old Rylan Martin is testing a cancer drug called rituximab. It's approved to treat lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis, but Rylan doesn't have either one.

Seattle Post Intelligencer, May 1, 2007:
" Diabetes cases double in county "
'We need to understand why people aren't listening,' study's author says.

Seattle Post Intelligencer, March 22, 2007:
" Cure for juvenile diabetes faces a big hurdle "
Seattle and Sweden share a perch on one "top 10" ladder that people in both places would rather descend than climb -- high incidences of Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes.

KING 5 News, March 10, 2007:
" Seattle study looks at Type one diabetes "
A multinational study is being launched locally at the Benaroya Research Institute. The goal of the study is to identify people who are at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes, and see if we can prevent them, or delay the onset of their disease.

KING 5 News, March 3, 2007:
"Seattle researchers tackle juvenile diabetes"
There's new hope in the battle against Type 1 diabetes, the form that attacks young children. Now local researchers are taking a step closer to defeating the disease.

Seattle Post Intelligencer, July 17, 2006:
"Records set in Seafair triathlon"
Seattle's Dave Messenheimer and Steilacoom's Heidi Grimm captured the men's and women's overall titles in the sixth annual Benaroya Research Institute Triathlon at Seafair on Sunday at Seward Park.

Seattle Post Intelligencer, July 15, 2006:
"Seafair triathlon's popularity soaring"
Mark Davies has competed in dozens of triathlon since 1996. He's been an Iron Man competitor in Brazil, New Zealand, Canada and across the United States. But there's something about the Benaroya Research Institute Triathlon at Seafair that makes the event one of his all-time favorites.

Seattle Post Intelligencer, July 5, 2006:
"Seattle in demand on even a molecular level"
Thanks to Dr. Jerry Nepom and his gang of scientists at a research facility few people might know by name, Seattle provides much of the world with a spiderlike molecule that has become one of the research community's hottest new tools.

KING5 News, May 20, 2006:
"New drug combination could help juvenile diabetics"
Kids with Type 1 diabetes face major health complications as they age and the disease continues to damage their bodies. Now some Seattle researchers are working to buy them crucial time.

KOMO News, November 14, 2005:
"That Old Justin Timberlake Record Could Help Save A Life"
It's a medical breakthrough, and it's happening at Seattle's Benaroya Research Institute. But researchers are scratching the surface, and finding their groove through an unlikely means.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 2, 2004:
"Anthrax vaccine to be studied in Seattle"
Benaroya Research Institute was awarded one of 14 grants in a $74 million program launched by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Puget Sound Business Journal, March 12, 2004:
"Community must emulate R&D institutions"
Gerald T. Nepom, director of Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, outlines a path toward scientific discovery based on a partnership between scientists and the community.

Puget Sound Business Journal, March 12, 2004:
"R&D community finds strength in numbers"
Seattle research organizations, including Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason and The Hope Heart Institute, work together to fuel collaborative advancements in disease research.

Puget Sound Business Journal, November 28, 2003
"$250 million eyed to grow biotech here"
Commissioned by Governor Locke, a committee of government and industry experts is to submit a proposal that would bring $250 million in state funding to the local biotech scene. Initiative Bio 21 aims to boost the state economy and position Washington to compete with other regions vying for biotech growth by funding collaborative research in diagnostics and therapeutics, bioengineering and health-care informatics.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 16, 2003:
"Seattle Lab Designing Key to Unlock Genetic Secrets"
The human genome project has given rise to a new kind of science in which animal genomes are compiled for use as tools to understand human genetic code.

EDC Economic Forecast, January 2003:
"Vibrant Biomedical Landscape Lays Solid Foundation"
The Economic Development Council Economic Forecast sponsored by the Puget Sound Business Journal featured an editorial by Dr. Gerald Nepom on the social and economic issues facing the changing face of human health services