News Release

HHS Establishes Office to Manage Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the establishment of the office that will manage the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).  The office will reside  under the HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and its director will report to the Assistant Secretary.

The BARDA office will manage Project BioShield, which includes the procurement and advanced development of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear agents, as well as manage the advanced development and procurement of medical countermeasures for pandemic influenza and other emerging infectious diseases that fall outside the auspices of Project BioShield.

 “The creation of BARDA enhances the opportunity for innovation in our efforts to develop effective medical countermeasures against a host of public health threats, either natural or manmade,” Secretary Leavitt said.  “I am pleased that Congress recognized the importance of advanced development in the establishment of BARDA, and the President’s FY 2008 budget request of $189 million for this purpose will help further the department’s efforts to bridge the gap between the National Institutes of Health’s research and development programs and Project BioShield.” 

BARDA will provide an integrated, systematic approach to the development and purchase of the necessary vaccines, drugs, therapies and diagnostic tools for public health medical emergencies. BARDA will incorporate all the programs, mission responsibilities and organizational functions previously housed in the HHS Office of Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures, which will be subsumed in the reorganization process.

In addition to establishing the administrative structure for managing BARDA, the department today also posted the vacancy announcement to fill the position of BARDA director.  In filling this position, the department is seeking an individual with extensive experience as a senior executive in drug, biologic or vaccine development in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries as well as overall management experience of research and development programs.  More information on the BARDA director vacancy announcement is available online at http://www.usajobs.gov.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last revised: August 29, 2008