The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will collaborate with Johnson & Johnson Innovation and the Children’s National Health System to launch an innovation zone.
The innovation zone will be located at Johnson & Johnson Innovation and the Children’s National Health System new JLABS @ Washington, DC, facility, a 32,000-square foot research facility to be located at the new Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus in Washington, DC.
The innovation zone was created to advance medical countermeasures from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. The innovation zone will provide residency for companies focused on solutions to address 21st century health security threats.
“Collaboration is at the heart of our efforts to change the trajectory of health for humanity. We are proud to once again collaborate with Children’s National and BARDA, with the goal of speeding healthcare innovation in the greater Washington, DC metro area to the benefit of all,” William Hait, global head of Johnson & Johnson External Innovation, said.
This agreement builds on collaborations BARDA has made with Janssen Research & Development to accelerate new therapies and vaccines to protect communities against these threats.
“Our nation faces serious, evolving health security threats, and mounting a rapid and effective response against those threats requires innovative, end-to-end solutions,” Rick Bright, BARDA director and deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response, said. “We are thrilled to continue our strategic partnership with JLABS, foster the culture of innovation within the nation’s capital and expand our pipeline of new solutions to help save lives in public health emergencies.”
Melinda Richter, global head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS, said the collaboration with BARDA aims to leverage entrepreneurship and bold thinking to help advance new medical countermeasures.
“These threats deserve the exponential strength and ingenuity of the brightest minds and this collaboration will give them the platform to address these threats,” Richter said.