BARDA DRIVe: Health Security Innovation Funding (EZ-BAA and BAA Special Instructions)

BARDA DRIVe: Health Security Innovation Funding (EZ-BAA and BAA Special Instructions) is sponsored by Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). BARDA DRIVe takes a new approach to tackle national health security threats, developing innovative technologies and practices for transformative solutions.

First Flight Venture Center — BARDA DRIVe: Health Security Innovation Funding Meet Our Resident Companies FAST SBIR Funding Program BARDA DRIVe: Health Security Innovation Funding Itineraries: Science Talk LiftOff: Strategic Non-dilutive Funding Navigators: Advisors and Business Mentoring Propeller Pre-Accelerator: Finding the Business Value in New Ideas Test Flight: Pitch Practice 2026 High Flyer Awards Luncheon 2025 High Flyer Award Luncheon 2025 March Madness Open House 2024 High Flyer Award Luncheon 2024 March Madness Open House DRIVe: Support for companies developing health security solutions DRIVe takes a new approach to tackle the biggest national health security threats – developing innovative technologies and practices for transformative solutions.

First Flight helps you connect with BARDA to apply for the funding that can help keep us safe. In 2018, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) selected First Flight Venture Center as one of eight accelerators in the country tasked with finding solutions to protect Americans from 21st-century health security threats, including Sepsis, and early notification of infectious diseases.

This DRIVe (Division of Research, Innovation, and Ventures) initiative is part of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ( BARDA ) in the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

DRIVe’s mission is transforming Health Security by accelerating the research, development, and availability of transformative countermeasures to protect Americans from natural and intentional health security threats.

Bench To BARDA Panel Series & Recordings (2022) This program was a series of 6 panel discussions with industry and government partners, focused on providing guidance and insight into how innovators can take their solution from the benchtop to the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority (BARDA).

This program was a collaborative effort between incubators and accelerators who are partnered with them through their Division of Research, Innovation & Ventures (DRIVe). Each event had its own specific focus, while contributing to a sequential flow for the series.

Bench To BARDA Panel Series & Recordings (2022) Panel 1 : Spin Your Technology out of the Lab Panel 2: Build Your Technology into a Product Panel 3: Supporting startup growth via acceleration programs Panel 4: How can early-stage companies work with BARDA? BARDA DRIVe EZ-BAA and the BARDA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) BARDA partners with companies and teams offering solutions to a broad range of national health security threats .

DRIVe partnering approaches vary depending on the project. DRIVe has two main solicitations, the EZ-BAA for awards under $750K and the BAA Special Instructions for larger projects. Click here to learn more about the BARDA DRIVe EZ-BAA .

Read the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s report on the BARDA DRIVe Portfolio Companies (Companies from around the world that have been funded). Learn about the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

First Flight’s role as a BARDA DRIVe Health Security Accelerato First Flight is connecting companies, universities and other important members of the North Carolina health security ecosystem to drive innovation in lifesaving medical technologies and solve challenging problems spanning modern health security threats and daily medical care.

First Flight is collaborating with DRIVe to identify the most innovative solutions for BARDA funding. The First Flight and DRIVe teams are in regular communication and meet quarterly at our RTP offices. Our goals are complimentary: to help organizations better position themselves to go after DRIVe funding and to improve the fundable pipeline for DRIVe.

Thank you! First Flight’s DRIVe Health Security Accelerator is funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).