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SPARK Accelerator 2025

The SPARK Accelerator Program offers a 6-month accelerator and wraparound service program.

SPARK Accelerator 2025

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 Accelerator

Are you developing a groundbreaking technology that can enhance health security for pediatric populations? The SPARK Accelerator Program supports academic innovators and companies developing innovative technologies for pediatric populations aligned with BARDA’s mission and strategic plan. Selected teams will be admitted to a 6-month long accelerator and wraparound services program.
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 – Monday, December 9, 2024
Webinar – 11:00am EST on December 10, 2024 –Register here
Submission deadline – 11:59pm EST on February 10, 2025
Accelerator start date – March, 2025

We are using CoLab as our application portal. If you are new to CoLab and experience any issues creating an account, please reach out to us at [email protected].

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