HHS announces Bright selected as director of BARDA

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on Friday announced the selection of Rick Bright for the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

“BARDA succeeds through strong relationships with federal, private sector and non-governmental entities, and in vetting the candidates for the BARDA Director position we engaged subject matter experts and leaders from across ASPR and the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE),” said Nicole Lurie, assistant secretary  for Preparedness and Response at HHS.  

“In a strong field, Rick Bright stood out, with a clear vision for leading BARDA and collaborating with PHEMCE partners in a rapidly changing mission space,” she added.

Bright has worked with BARDA since 2010, most recently serving as the director of BARDA’s Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases Division. An award-winning vaccine and therapeutics researcher, Bright is a graduate of Emory University, where he received his PhD, and Auburn University, which granted his bachelor’s degree.

Lurie also thanked Acting Director Richard Hatchett for his service during the search, crediting his composure and insight in BARDA’s ability to address the Zika threat.

“Under Richard’s leadership as acting director, BARDA has responded to the emergence of Zika by jumpstarting the development of vaccines, diagnostics and blood screening products, while continuing with CBRN and pandemic influenza program activities, launching a new program in the Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X), and hosting the largest BARDA Industry Day yet,” Lurie said.