How You Can Increase Your Odds of Receiving BARDA Funding


Developing solutions to health emergencies is no small feat, often requiring extensive funding that agencies like the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) aim to provide. However, navigating their selection process to secure support presents challenges many innovators struggle with.

This guide breaks down practical strategies to advance prospects, from understanding BARDA’s focus to leveraging expert consultation. By boosting your proposal’s strengths in these key areas, your efforts are far more likely to succeed in their mission of protecting public wellness.

Understand BARDA’s Priorities

BARDA’s objectives shift with emerging pathogens, so keep tabs via its website. Present needs like pandemic influenza vaccines receive emphasis. Review current BARDA funding calls closely to understand requirements for things like technologies, timelines, and targeted diseases.

Speak BARDA’s language by directly addressing signaled concerns. This shows you appreciate their aims.

Build Capabilities Wisely

While a novel idea attracts BARDA, your team must prove its ability to execute. Focus R&D on advancing a product’s maturity through early studies. Cobble together expertise and facilities your project necessitates – outsourcing where wise. A calculated capability expansion demonstrates accountability without overspending.

Partner for Impact

BARDA seeks solutions that quickly make a real difference for public health. Partners Amplifying Impact can help you expedite product development or access new markets and people groups.

Look within university consortiums or industry heavyweights for partnerships that further strengthen your solution and team. Collaboration shows BARDA the goodness extending beyond their backing.

Fine-Tune Your BARDA Funding Pitch

Capture BARDA’s interest during the 15-minute presentation time limit by zeroing in on how your work uniquely benefits their goals. Craft a compelling narrative supported by clear visuals.

Know your numbers, benchmarks, and timelines by heart and anticipate skeptical questions. Rehearse to ensure calm, collected delivery that leaves an impression of feasibility and preparedness for BARDA’s rigorous oversight framework.

Leverage Consultants’ Expertise

Government grants demand precision, which very few can master alone. Consultants guide applicants through complex requirements and recast ideas to match priorities.

Their network within BARDA shortens feedback loops while grant-writing prowess hones compelling proposals. Though an added cost, experts more than pay for themselves via raised odds of acceptance.

Improve Through Continued Engagement

If rejected, it’s tempting to retreat, but BARDA encourages ongoing dialogue. Reach out to understand evaluation results and resubmit strengthened solutions the next chance.

Invite BARDA advisors for insight into your work to address ongoing concerns and form invaluable relationships. Staying actively engaged and improving per feedback ensures you remain top-of- mind as a partner for consideration in future funding opportunities.

Keep Showing Value Post-Award

While receiving funds is something to celebrate, you can’t afford to rest on your laurels – BARDA selects those that maximize impact and are willing to keep innovating. After winning support, prove due diligence via progress reports documenting achievements against benchmarks.

Advance technological and clinical milestones according to schedule, bringing BARDA alongside your journey. This follow-through builds trust for future collaborations – whether additional financing or procuring your solution to combat health threats.

Bottom Line

Securing BARDA funding involves strategy beyond submissions. With expert guidance and accountability to public welfare, driven teams position themselves brilliantly to triumph over the stringent BARDA application process. As such, through BARDA’s help, you can help improve public preparedness and health outcomes.