Bryan and Christine White

For more than three decades, Bryan and Christine White have been part of the UW Medicine community. What began as a simple connection has grown into a deep and lasting commitment to science, innovation and collaboration across Seattle.

In 2026, Bryan and Christine are being honored with the Brotman Leadership Award, a recognition that holds special meaning, especially for Bryan. It reflects not only their commitment to UW Medicine but also represents Jeff Brotman’s legacy as a mentor and personal friend who helped shape Bryan’s journey.

A connection that grew into commitment

The Whites’ relationship with UW Medicine began in the mid-1990s, when Christine worked in the University of Washington’s Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, coordinating research studies aimed at advancing early disease detection and improving treatment outcomes. Working alongside world-renowned infectious disease researchers only fostered Christine and Bryan’s belief that the University of Washington was a leading global center for scientific innovation and discovery.

That connection grew over time. Bryan, the co-founder and chief investment officer of Sahsen Ventures, and Christine expanded their support of cutting-edge research, in part through their relationship with the Brotman family, especially as an extension of the connection between the late Jeff Brotman and Bryan White.

“Jeff had a way of connecting ideas across domains,” Bryan says. “He brought his experience, his values and his commitment to UW Medicine in so many ways. Our conversations on leadership, culture and what makes institutions endure were especially enlightening.”

Jeff opened doors to UW Medicine in a deeper way. He introduced Bryan to the Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM). Over time, their engagement deepened, shaped by relationships and a growing understanding of the impact of scientific discovery to cure diseases.

Jeff and Bryan’s journey soon involved discussions with Paul G. Ramsey, MD, former CEO, UW Medicine, as well as David Baker, PhD, the director of the Institute for Protein Design (IPD) and Jay Shendure, MD, PhD, the scientific director of the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine (BBI).

Supporting science that changes what’s possible

Today, Bryan’s work with UW Medicine centers on those groundbreaking efforts.

At the IPD, where Bryan chairs the Advisory Board, scientists are designing entirely new proteins, a field that once seemed almost unimaginable. When Bryan first learned about the work of Baker, IPD’s Nobel Prize-winning director, he was struck by its potential.

 
“The idea that we could design new proteins from scratch to solve problems in medicine and the environment was staggering,” Bryan says.

Over the past decade, the IPD Advisory Board has taken an active role in growing the IPD’s impact by advising on how the biotech industry might respond to its discoveries. The IPD has succeeded in launching 11 spinouts to date.

The BBI represents a different kind of ambition, bringing together UW Medicine, Fred Hutch and Seattle Children’s to advance precision medicine through collaboration.

“What makes Seattle unique is how these organizations collaborate,” says Bryan. “They don’t just coexist. They build something together.”

Bryan was involved in early discussions to imagine how the BBI could leverage collaboration to advance science. He viewed the work as an essential investment in building something lasting, helping institutions come together to achieve more than they could alone.

He points to the scientists, students and leaders who drive discovery every day. Their work, he says, is what creates real impact. Bryan and Christine have supported that work through resources, relationships and a business perspective that can help move ideas forward.

For Bryan, this kind of engagement is critical.

“What scientists need most are people who show up consistently and bring their full selves,” he said.

He encourages others to take a similar approach. “Start with curiosity,” he says. “Learn about the science. Talk to researchers. Find where your own experience can make a difference. The rest tends to follow.”

Honoring a legacy, looking ahead

Receiving the Brotman Leadership Award is deeply personal for Bryan. Jeff was not only a mentor, advisor and friend, but also the reason Bryan and Christine became so involved with UW Medicine. His influence continues to shape Bryan’s approach to his work, even after Jeff’s passing in 2017.

“His intellectual generosity, his integrity and his commitment to this community set a standard we hope to perpetuate,” Bryan says.

For the Whites, the award is not just a recognition of past contributions. It is a reminder of the responsibility to continue that work.

“To receive an award in their family’s name is humbling in a way that is hard to articulate,” the Whites say. “It feels less like recognition and more like a reminder of what our friends made possible and what we still owe to the work they helped set in motion.”

Building for the next generation

Looking ahead, both Bryan and Christine are focused on the future of science in Seattle and the people who will lead it.

They are especially inspired by the next generation of scientists at IPD and BBI. Graduate students, postdocs and early-career faculty are exploring new ideas and pushing boundaries in ways their mentors could not have predicted.

For Bryan, the goal is clear: to help sustain a culture where people can take on hard problems and feel supported in doing so.

“If the next generation feels the same pull toward these institutions that we did,” he says, “that would be a lasting legacy.”

In the end, both Bryan and Christine measure success not by recognition, but by impact. From helping launch major scientific partnerships to supporting the people behind the work, their contributions reflect an enduring belief in the power of collaboration.

Written by Patsy Cadwell