The BARDA Accelerator Network Hub
for Medical Devices and Diagnostics
This joint initiative was created between University Lab Partners and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The International Consortium for Research, Engineering, Acceleration of Technology Excellence (I-CREATE) is designed to support startups in developing innovative diagnostic technology and medical devices to enhance the nation's readiness for public health emergencies.
ULP is partnering with the Consortium for Improving Medicine with Innovation & Technology (CIMIT) at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and Science Exchange to establish the International Consortium for Research, Engineering, Acceleration of Technology Excellence (I-CREATE). This hub will focus on developing diagnostics and devices to detect, prevent, or respond to medical consequences that result from health security threats.
We invite startups and university-backed projects to apply for non-dilutive funding ranging from $50K to $200K. This funding supports the development, evaluation, or validation of innovative solutions aligned with BARDA’s mission to enhance pandemic preparedness and health security.
Applications for the first cohort are closed. However, the application is still open for consideration for the next cohort in early 2025.
The top contestant will win a grand prize of $50K. Five runners-up will receive an incredible package including tailored mentoring for success and access to our extensive network of mentors, collaborative learning, networking opportunities, and educational programming designed specifically for early-stage companies.
I-CREATE strives to fulfill the following objectives
Support health security innovators/startups and BARDA-funded partners by providing services including entrepreneurship education.
Access to $3M+ state-of-the-art scientific equipment and infrastructure to facilitate technology development, validation, and commercialization.
LEARN MORECapabilities to review, fund, and accelerate startups and perform product development, evaluation, and validation of medical countermeasures (MCMs).
Increase early-stage capital access to fund and accelerate product development of MCMs.
Access to technical, business, and commercialization expertise and resources.
Build a rapid emergency response infrastructure to fund and accelerate product development and validation of MCMs that can be developed and deployed quickly in the event of a public health emergency.
The BARDA Accelerator Network aims to provide comprehensive support to health security innovators, startups, and BARDA portfolio companies through wrap-around accelerator services, technical and business/commercialization expertise, and resources. The network will facilitate the rapid development, evaluation, validation, and commercialization of medical countermeasures.