BARDA: Call for Information

BARDA DRIVe is seeking information on developments in anticoagulation drugs, assays, and management in the specific context of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy. The intent is to identify areas of innovation that can solve the challenges posed by anticoagulation in ECMO or improve on the ways this issue is currently being addressed. BARDA will not execute any awards based on this notice. This RFI solely aims to gather knowledge on present and future capabilities and other pertinent marketplace data to strengthen BARDA’s understanding of the current developmental landscape of this field. This does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). More information can be found here:
https://beta.sam.gov/opp/e9e7f046d7234dae9f14c1b38a5a20f9/view

The RFI will be open until 04 May 2021, and interested companies should submit their responses to DRIVeContracting@hhs.gov.

BRIDGE: University-Industry Proof of Concept Program

innovosource is partnering with Philips Image Guided Therapy Devices to identify partnership opportunities related to three specific technical challenges.

The goal is to connect motivated, industry partners with existing partnership nodes at research institutions to engage and initiate long-lasting relationships. Positive outcomes could result in company-funded POC projects, licensing, startup investment, and/or research partnerships.

This process is open and free to participate to all research institution partnership nodes (tech commercialization, gap funds/accelerators, corporate relations, research centers, faculty).

Learn more here: https://innovosource.lpages.co/bridge/

BARDA: Immunechip+ Program Overview

Tools that accelerate medical countermeasure screening and development are vital to improving human health – from enabling personalized medicine to responding to health security threats such as pandemics. To this end, BARDA, in partnership with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched the new ImmuneChip+ program.

We aim to partner with innovators to support the development of advanced microphysiological systems / tissue chip platforms that integrate a component of the human immune system. The objective of the program is to develop a set of set of mature ImmuneChips, combining a previously validated model of a vital human tissue (e.g. lung, heart, kidney) with an immune system component, in a single platform that can be machine-manufactured and that includes multiple in-line sensors for long-term tissue monitoring. With this program, we aim to further enhance the usability of tissue chips and position them as useful tools in the drug development process and for personalized therapeutics.

For more details, please visit BARDA DRIVe program at https://drive.hhs.gov/immunechip.html

BARDA RFI: Needle-less Delivery

BARDA is interested in learning more about the current landscape and technologies and companies in the needle-less delivery space. The delivery platforms should be compatible with biologic payloads (e. g. vaccines, monoclonal antibodies) that utilize the following alternative routes of administration:
– Oral
– Buccal/Sublingual
– Inhalation (e. g. aerosolization)
Other platforms

Technologies NOT of interest:
– Needle-based (e.g. auto injectors)
– Microneedle systems (e. g. patches)
– Implant-based

Particular interest in plug-and-play platforms that have potential to easily allow for the use of a wide variety of vaccines or therapeutics with the platform.

If you are interested in sharing information, please contact Phuong Nguyen at phuong.t.nguyen@stonybrook.edu

7 Dx firms to share $249M from NIH for COVID-19 testing

Seven companies were chosen by the NIH to receive funding for new technologies to boost their testing capacities and help them ramp up production of millions of coronavirus rapid tests to be made available by September 2020. A total of $248.7 million will be invested and shared by Mesa Biotech, Quidel, Talis Biomedical, Fluidigm, Ginkgo Bioworks, Helix OpCo and Mammoth Biosciences. Read more. (Via BIO Smart Brief/Reuters)