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SPARK DEV Funding Opportunity 2024

Up to $200k in Non-Dilutive Funding for Pediatric Health Security Solutions.

SPARK Development, Evaluation, Validation (DEV) Funding Opportunity

Background

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) supports the development of medical countermeasures (MCMs)—technologies and products to prevent, prepare for, and respond to health security threats including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious diseases. Classes of technologies and products to counter such health security threats include vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, digital health tools, and enabling technologies. Developing and ensuring access to medical countermeasures for pediatric populations is a part of BARDA’s Mission and Strategic Plan to protect all members of our communities against an evolving threat landscape and to ensure that BARDA’s response accounts for all needs of all segments of the population.

About the Challenge

Are you an academic innovator or company developing a groundbreaking technology that can enhance health security for pediatric populations? The SPARK Hub DEV Funding Opportunity supports the development, evaluation, or validation of innovative solutions to enhance pandemic preparedness and health security with non-dilutive funding awards ranging from $50k to $200k. Proposals will be primarily evaluated based on alignment with BARDA’s mission, the innovativeness of the technology, and the strength of the proposed use of funds.

Specific technology/product development areas include, but are not limited to: 

Diagnostics

  • Kid-friendly sample collection approaches
  • At-home diagnostic technologies focused on pediatric populations
  • Technologies to distinguish viral vs. bacterial infections in children
Therapeutics and Vaccines
  • Therapeutics and vaccines for health security threats for which approved products do not exist for pediatric populations
  • Kid-friendly vaccine and drug delivery approaches
Medical Devices
  • New devices or modifications to approved adult devices for pediatric use
Digital Health Tools
  • Models to predict recommended drug dosages or outcomes for pediatric populations during a public health emergency
Enabling Technologies
  • In support of the development of pediatric products in any of the above technology areas

Key Dates

Release date – November 25, 2024
Funding opportunity webinar – December 6, 2024
Submission deadline – 11:59pm EST on January 6, 2025
Finalists selected for deep dive review – February 10, 2025
Winners announced – March 10, 2025

Resources

Application Template

For your convenience, you may access the Microsoft Word version of the application to prepare your response.

BAN 2.0 Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Outline

Download the Acrobat PDF version.