About – MCM4Kids

About SPARK

SPARK, a BARDA Accelerator Network (BAN) Hub, is dedicated to developing and accelerating critical innovations to protect pediatric populations against health security threats.

Who We Are

The BARDA and SPARK Story

BARDA

Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), drives innovation in medical countermeasures (MCMs) to protect public health from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as pandemics and emerging infectious diseases.

The BARDA Accelerator Network

Established by BARDA, the BARDA Accelerator Network (BAN) fosters the growth of health security innovation ecosystems globally and accelerates the development and commercialization of next-generation health security solutions.

The SPARK Hub

As part of BARDA’s commitment to expanding health security measures for special populations, SPARK Hub for Pediatric Innovations, led by Children’s National, plays a vital role in advancing solutions tailored to children’s unique health needs.

Get to know us

Our Approach

SPARK Hub for Pediatric Innovations provides Wraparound Accelerator Services (WAS) and funding for Development, Evaluation, and Validation (DEV) of pediatric-focused MCM innovations. These services are tailored to support MCM innovators through each phase of development, from ideation to FDA-regulated product validation. SPARK Hub’s activities encompass:

Wraparound Accelerator Services: Offering comprehensive, cohort-based, and personalized advisory and mentorship programs for startups and BARDA-funded partners, particularly those focused on pediatric MCMs.
Development, Evaluation, and Validation (DEV) Services: Enabling MCM projects to receive the critical capital needed for FDA-regulated product development and validation.

The ultimate goals

Our Objectives

SPARK Hub’s integrated approach, combining Wraparound Services and DEV services, seeks to create a robust pipeline of pediatric MCM innovators by focusing on:

Ecosystem Building: Expanding a network of support and resources for pediatric health innovators.
Needs Assessment: Identifying critical health security needs and aligning innovations to address them.
Collaboration with Hubs: Maintaining strong connections with other BARDA hubs to drive innovation across special populations.

Special populations

Our Consortium of Experts

Advancing Research to Transform Care for Childhood Diseases

Children’s National Research Institute advances translational and clinical research to improve understanding, prevention, treatment, and care of childhood diseases.