Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)

10 to 15 million units of red blood cells are processed for transfusion each year in the U.S. and are essential for not only routine care, but also emergency responses, including mass casualty events. But if dangerous pathogens enter the blood supply, there is risk for devastating effects on recipients of blood transfusions. That’s why BARDA partnered with Cerus to continue development of the INTERCEPT Blood System for red blood cells. This pathogen reduction technology aims to reduce risk of transfusion-transmitted infections to help keep patients safe. Learn more: https://ow.ly/uR2E50TGXUe

The BioMaP-Consortium is excited to announce the opening of registration for the upcoming BioMaP-Consortium Industry Day!?We also have a Draft Agenda available to review, and there are still open rooms at a guaranteed rate at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda for October 28th-30th.?You can find all this information, registration forms, and booking links at the event website here: https://cvent.me/2BwkMG In addition to BioMaP-Consortium member exclusive opportunities to present Company Introductions, Posters, and participate in a structured Networking & Matchmaking Session with technology integrators, some exciting new events on the agenda include: - Keynote Speeches on “Innovations in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing: Scaling Up for Global Health” and “Onshoring Domestic Manufacturing Capability” - Panel Discussions on “Lessons Learned from COVID Response” and “Overcoming Challenges in Supply Chain and Manufacturing Scalability” - A Fireside Chat with BioMaP-Consortium 2024 Awardees - Breakout Sessions with the BioMaP-Consortium Executive Steering Committee Visit the Event Page to learn more!

Health security innovators... Save the date! We are excited to announce that BARDA Industry Day 2025 will be held on June 30 – July 1, 2025! This year’s theme: Enhancing Health Security With a Sustainable Future. Join us to learn about our government medical countermeasure priorities and partnership opportunities and to network with government and industry colleagues. We want to hear from you! Help us shape content for BID2025. Send us your ideas for BID2025 by 10/30/2024: https://ow.ly/ACMN50TJYBm

We are partnering with Synedgen to develop MIIST305 to address Gastrointestinal Acute Radiation Syndrome (GI-ARS). GI-ARS occurs when patients are exposed to a high level of radiation, which may occur after a nuclear detonation. Currently, there are no FDA approved therapeutics to treat GI-ARS, marking a critical gap in national preparedness. By bolstering preparedness against an evolving threat landscape, we help ensure critical medical countermeasures, such as MIIST305, are available to save lives during emergencies. Learn more: https://ow.ly/lrve50TKQ5j

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day – today we honor the perseverance and courage of Indigenous peoples and show our gratitude for the myriad contributions they have made to our world.

Get at-home COVID-19 tests delivered to you at no cost, not even shipping. Order now so you have them on hand when you need them! Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-?home tests beginning September 23. Just visit https://COVIDTests.gov/ or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).

Due date extended on Request for Project Proposals for Oral Formulation Vaccines! Proposals are now due 11/1/2024 by 1pm eastern. A Teaming Connect to facilitate partnering and collaboration will be held on Oct. 10th at 11am ET. Both speakers and audience members may register for the 24-02-OralVx Teaming Connect at: https://lnkd.in/eqvXe3wC. please register by Monday, October 7th at 12PM ET.? BARDA is seeking proposals for development of new technologies and other capabilities that decrease costs, speed production, increase efficacy, and/or improve access of vaccine platforms/technologies. View the RPP: https://lnkd.in/ehSy97zs

During Health Care Supply Chain Week, we’re highlighting the importance of supply chain professionals in the nation’s health security. Strong, committed partnerships between industry and the federal government are vital when responding to any public health emergency (PHE). That is why our Pharmaceutical Countermeasures Infrastructure (PCI) Division works closely with industry partners to enhance and strengthen the nation's vaccine (and other biologics) manufacturing capabilities to quickly and effectively respond to PHEs. Check out PCI: https://lnkd.in/eHymWnhK Three programmatic functions within PCI work to expand and maintain the U.S.’s medical countermeasure (MCM) manufacturing infrastructure: ? The Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) Capability Readiness (CCR) Program partners with the private sector and across HHS to address disruptions in the supply chain for vaccine development and production - with a focus on influenza vaccine manufacturing. ? The Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Preparedness (BioMaP) Program is critical to the nation’s preparedness to respond to potential future public health emergencies (PHEs) – with a focus on sustaining a ready manufacturing capability that enables the production of biologics (such as vaccines) at the speed and scale required. The BioMaP Program is comprised of three distinct components: ??BioMaP-Consortium: Building targeted partnerships that advance MCM manufacturing capacity and/or capabilities. ??BioMaP-X: Designed to test and evaluate domestic biomanufacturing capabilities to improve, strengthen, and validate the nation’s ability to meet our biomanufacturing targets and more effectively respond future PHEs. ??BioMaP Workforce (BioMaP-W): Reimaging a nationwide biopharmaceutical workforce development program that prepares a skilled, ready workforce for a successful PHE response. ? The Manufacturability & Resilience (M&R) Program focuses on manufacturability, resilience, and capability expansion for BARDA-supported qualified MCM and related programs. The program engages with industry and interagency partners on topics relating to MCM supply chain resilience - including industrial base expansion and horizon scanning for new MCM-related technologies and capabilities - to support the nation’s preparedness to current and future PHEs.

There’s still time to submit to DRIVe’s Digital MCMs program! DRIVe is looking for partners with innovative computational approaches and technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), that: ?? Are the foundation of new medical countermeasures (MCM) for health security threats, or ?? Directly support the development or use of MCMs for health security threats (please note that discovery of new, repurposed, or repositioned drugs, therapeutics, or vaccines is out of scope for this program). Digital MCMs could include those that provide screening or diagnostic support, improve triage or clinical workflows for more efficient responses to health security threats, increase MCM accessibility, support multimodal medicine, or evaluate the utility of real-world data or synthetic data for MCM development. Proposals that use digital technologies to improve MCM availability, access, or user experience for underserved populations are of particular interest.? This R&D funding opportunity is Area of Interest 17, which is described in Amendment 28 to the EZ-BAA solicitation. The deadline to submit is October 31, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET. Learn more and contact the Digital MCMs team at: https://ow.ly/gNtW50RT0eC

Working to stay ahead of antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, BARDA has committed over $2.4B to support public-private partnerships that produce effective antibiotics and antifungals to keep Americans safe during a public health emergency. Read more: https://ow.ly/jLTZ50THJcw