SPARK DEV Funding Opportunity 2026
Up to $200,000 in equity-free, non-dilutive funding for development, evaluation, and validation of pediatric-focused medical countermeasures
Request for proposal
SPARK DEV Funding Opportunity 2026
Background
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) supports the development of medical countermeasures (MCMs)—technologies and products designed to prevent, prepare for, and respond to health security threats, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious diseases. These countermeasures include vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health tools, and enabling technologies.
The SPARK Hub (Special Populations Acceleration Research and Knowledge) for Innovations in Pediatrics, a BARDA Accelerator Network hub for Special Populations, supports the development of innovations that address challenges related to the creation and availability of medical countermeasures for pediatric populations. Developing and ensuring access to medical countermeasures for children is a core component of BARDA’s mission and strategic plan to protect all members of our communities against an evolving threat landscape and to ensure that BARDA’s response meets the needs of every segment of the population.
About the Opportunity
Are you an academic innovator or company developing a groundbreaking technology that can enhance health security for pediatric populations? The SPARK DEV Funding Opportunity supports the Development, Evaluation, or Validation (DEV) of innovative solutions that strengthen pandemic preparedness and health security for children. Multiple awards of up to $200,000 are available for projects with a duration of no more than six months. Funding is non-dilutive, and milestone based. Awardees will also receive regular project management and mentor support.
Focus Areas
- Pediatric-specific micro physiological systems (e.g., organoids, tissue chips, organ-on-a-chip)
- Animal models for safety, efficacy, and dosing studies
- Pediatrics-focused digital twins
- Pediatric PK/PD drug models for determining the appropriate dose needed to achieve adult-equivalent PK/PD
- Simulation platforms to optimize clinical trial design and forecast pediatric responses
- Tools and platforms that integrate biological, computational, and real-world pediatric data (from clinical care, registries, and wearable devices) to accelerate MCM development, streamline regulatory pathways, and reduce the need for large-scale pediatric clinical trials.
- Medical countermeasure technologies, including medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutic platforms, digital health tools, and enabling technologies, that are FDA-approved or in active development for adult populations and can be repurposed for use in pediatric populations.
Application & Review Timeline
November 2025
Submission Deadline for preliminary applications is November 17, 2025.
An Information webinar will be held on October 29, 2025. Register for the webinar here.
Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals (by invitation only).
Pitch calls will be held with shortlisted applicants.
Guided Proposal Revisions: Applicants will collaborate with subject matter experts to revise, de-risk, and strengthen their proposals.
April 2026
Awardees are expected to be announced.
We are using CoLab as our application portal. If you are new to CoLab and experience any issues creating an account, please reach out to us at [email protected].