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Senate panel hears proposal to create TEDCO long‑COVID grant and loan program
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Summary
SB 392 would authorize TEDCO to administer a Long COVID Innovation Grant and Loan Program to accelerate diagnostics and treatments; advocates and researchers urged a favorable report and discussed program design and potential funding (panel discussed a $10 million program fund and a $500,000 TEDCO startup allocation).
Senators heard SB 392 to establish a Long COVID Innovation Grant and Loan Program administered by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) to accelerate research, product development and manufacturing related to long COVID.
A sponsor (referred to by the chair as Senator King) introduced the bill noting the prevalence and economic consequences of long COVID. Bridget Collins of ME Action Maryland urged support, saying state prevalence estimates indicate hundreds of thousands of Marylanders are at risk and calling for a dedicated state program to accelerate treatments.
Multiple witnesses—patient advocates, biotech entrepreneurs and researchers—testified that early‑stage federal funding streams have waned and Maryland is well positioned to leverage TEDCO’s structure. Panelists described a program model and raised an illustrative fiscal structure: an administrative startup (TEDCO seed) of about $500,000 to stand up the program and an investable fund in the $10,000,000 range to support grants and loans; panelists said budget appropriations were not yet committed but the structure enables funding if appropriations become available.
Supporters argued the program could produce job growth and follow‑on funding: they cited the Maryland Stem Cell Act of 2006 as a model that produced large private follow‑on investment. Researchers emphasized the need for translational funding and scientific review to vet proposals.
The committee closed the hearing after testimony with no vote; members expressed interest and asked staff to ensure budget and administration details are worked out in follow‑up.
