It is planned for the ISM and Gonzaga University to engage in a partnership focused on improved educational opportunities and collaborative science. Joint programs will allow undergraduate science and computer science students to pursue internship opportunities within state-of-the-art laboratories working with world-class scientists. Computer science masters students may also be given an opportunity to expand their exposure to high-level applications in systems medicine and genomics as well as high speed computing and computational biology. Additionally, the area of bio-medicine offers applications for students pursuing a wide diversity of fields including business administration and ethics; both are areas in which students can be a part of the cutting-edge in thought and development. Programs of this nature will not only improve the educational experience for students but also allow them to contribute to meaningful science at an early stage in their career. It is also expected that Gonzaga University and the ISM will jointly recruit new faculty via joint appointments focused in biology and chemistry. Furthermore as a liberal arts university with exceptional faculty, Gonzaga, along with the ISM, will also be able to offer unique K-12 programs focused on inculcating a new generation of scientists through authentic learning experiences at the ISM. As all of these programs mature, the ability of these two institutions to recruit and retain intellectual capital will grow substantially while utilizing the efficiency of shared resources.

The benefits of partnerships between preeminent state research universities, such as Washington State University, and non-profit research institutions are supported by a wide-variety of precedence. The ability to create joint research appointments and programs, while sharing facilities, has a number of significant advantages including opportunities for increased funding and recruitment. For example, leveraging demonstrated expertise across both institutions to submit joint funding applications may increase the potential for NIH credit and competitiveness for NIH grants. The combination of tenured research faculty and the private, focused, translational approach to biomedical research can be a powerful tool not only for both institutions in building new competitive programs but also for the growth of the local community and the region. Leveraging the two facilities and faculties, in cooperation with local healthcare organizations, will create a critical mass for biomedical research-based economic development. Not only will the core science programs of WSU be involved, but there will be significant opportunities for other schools, such as the veterinary school and the school of business. Additionally, students at all levels will have access to an interdisciplinary research institute with leading edge instrumentation and research cores while maintaining their connection to the university. This will allow them to gain unique experiences in a research institute while creating placement opportunities for post-doctoral students. In addition, the ISM's clinical partnerships and clinical cores may provide WWAMI medical students and their faculty with clinical opportunities in a pioneering area of medicine and the opportunity to support first-in-man studies. Partnership with the ISM may aid in attracting research faculty for the expanding Spokane WWAMI program.

The partnerships between the ISM and the two primary healthcare systems in the Inland Northwest will focus on the development of efficient clinical trial networks and joint research activities. Through collaboration, these organizations will create a world-class biomedical research and clinical environment that has attractive affiliations with other leading research and clinical institutions. One strategic goal will be to enhance the hospital’s clinical research operations, with increased emphasis on early phase clinical research and first-in-man studies especially in the area of novel therapeutics. Such enhancement is expected to positively affect patient draw, competitive position, and physician recruitment and retention. In addition, both EHS and PHS are expected to serve as a conduit for the clinical investigation of ISM discoveries. EHS, PHS, and the ISM intend to leverage their networks and resources, as well as evaluate opportunities, to collaborate in:

The two healthcare systems will also have the ability to leverage the unique access to a uniform patient information network to better target potential patient populations and increase patient enrollment in potential clinical trials; potentially resulting in increased clinical trails funding and greater hospital bed utilization. Additionally, research appointments for existing, interested physicians may help retain talent to the institutions and region; strengthening the quality of regional physicians and clinical practices overall, and therefore, the regional quality of health care. Next, the parties intend to share access to laboratories and clinics, educational resources, and research activities as appropriate and available.