BARDA sponsors late-stage development of two tests for radiation absorption

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently sponsored the late-stage development of two different biodosimetry tests to determine how much radiation a human’s body has absorbed.

The tests are intended for use in clinical health care laboratories that examine blood samples to analyze how genes respond to various amounts of radiation.

Funding for the tests was authorized through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division within HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

BARDA will use its authority under the Project BioShield Act of 2004 to fund the late-stage development and potential purchase of two tests intended for the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile. BARDA will provide more than $22.4 million over a two-year span to DxTerity Diagnostics and more than $21.3 million over more than four years to MRIGlobal for test development.

Under the Project BioShield law, the federal government can fund late-stage development of medical countermeasures to combat health ailments associated with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

BARDA is responsible for the advanced research and development, innovation, acquisition and manufacturing of vaccines, drugs, diagnostic tools and non-pharmaceutical products to protect public health from emergency threats.