The BARDA Accelerator Network Hub for Medical Devices and Diagnostics
Are you working on groundbreaking diagnostics or medical device countermeasures that address public health? I-CREATE is part of a global network of accelerator hubs that provide product development funding, accelerator services, and access to expertise for innovators developing health security solutions.
Startups and university-backed projects worldwide can 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. I-CREATE is seeking proposals for the development of innovative diagnostic and medical device innovations, in alignment with BARDA’s mission to promote health security. Innovators are invited to submit proposals for funding to allow:
Demonstration of proof-of-concept for a BARDA-relevant use case for an existing platform technology
Demonstration of proof-of-concept for “high-risk” breakthrough technologies
Advancement of technologies currently in development to the next value inflection point
Applications close September 30th.
Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals, including milestones and budgets by November 2025
The first round of Awards will be announced by the end of December 2025
Funding and program services begin in January 2026
Applications are now open for consideration for the 2026 Cohort and will close September 30th.
Focus areas of interest include new and novel approaches for the detection and diagnosis of pathogens and consequences of biological threats in BARDA’s mission space. Examples of technologies I-CREATE is seeking to fund:
• Diagnostics platforms detection, continuous monitoring, and triaging of infectious disease and biological threats.
• High-sensitivity, high-specificity, low-cost at-home molecular diagnostics: innovative point-of-need diagnostic platforms for emerging infectious disease and biological threats.
• Alternative, simple and user-friendly sampling and detection approaches (eg. breath)
• Novel pathogen agnostic approaches to infectious disease and biological threats detection
• Low-cost, deployable diagnostics for use in rural settings
