Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) - Profiles

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), manages the procurement and advanced development of medical countermeasures for CBRN threats, pandemic influenza and other emerging infectious diseases.

In addition, BARDA manages the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) and oversees all of HHS’s Project BioShield procurements. BARDA was established via the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006.

Key threats funded for countermeasures include anthrax, botulism, radiation, viral hemorrhagic fevers and smallpox. Most recent BARDA funding opportunities are available here.

CBRN agent countermeasures lack a significant commercial market as incidents occur infrequently. The funding phases and guaranteed federal market structure for finalized products overseen by BARDA is a critical national security effort to bring about countermeasure development.

A major component of the BARDA effort is to establish flexible multi-use manufacturing and core service partnerships that will assist companies in many aspects of developing and licensing a product, while providing medical countermeasure manufacturing and surge capacity.