Private event
SPARK Pediatric Medical Countermeasures Summit 2026
Tuesday, September 22
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus,
Washington, DC
About The Event
Hosted by SPARK Hub at Children’s National Hospital in partnership with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the SPARK Pediatric Medical Countermeasures Summit will bring together leaders from government, industry, academia, healthcare, and the biotech innovation ecosystem. Focus will be on advancing medical countermeasures, strengthening preparedness, and improving health security for pediatric populations. This summit provides a unique opportunity to connect with innovators, decision-makers, investors, and funders who are shaping the future of pediatric preparedness.
The program will feature panel discussion on key challenges and opportunities in pediatric medical countermeasure development, pitches from finalists competing in the SPARK Pediatric Medical Countermeasures Summit Prize Competition for up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding, a report highlighting priority unmet needs identified by leading pediatric and health security experts, and a networking mixer designed to foster new partnerships and collaborations.
Event Agenda
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
SPARK and BARDA Representatives
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Panel Discussion, “Ready for Children: Advancing Pediatric Indications in Medical Countermeasure Development”
Moderator: Dr. Kolaleh Eskandanian (SPARK)
Panelists: Bill Kapogiannis (BARDA), Steven Kreuzer (Exponent), Daniela Drago (NDA Partners), and Ana Loloei (AdvaMed)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: SPARK Pediatric Medical Countermeasures Prize Competition Finalist Pitches
Finalists to be announced soon.
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Break and Judges’ Deliberation
4:30 PM – 4:40 PM: Prize Competition Winner Announcements
4:40 PM – 5:00 PM: Next Steps and Closing Remarks
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Networking Mixer
Location
Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus
7144 13th Pl NW, Washington, DC 20012, USA
Parking garage address (for GPS): 7185 13th Place NW, Washington, DC 20012
Garage access: Use the entrance marked Visitor and Patient Parking. This entrance takes you to Level 3 of the garage, directly across from event building.
Parking rates: $1 for first 45 mins; $4 for one hour; $8 for two hours; $12 for three hours; $16 maximum per day.
About SPARK
The Special Populations Acceleration Research and Knowledge (SPARK) for Innovations in Pediatrics, a BARDA Accelerator Network (BAN) Hub, led by Children’s National Hospital, supports the development of innovations that address challenges around the advancement and availability of medical countermeasures for pediatric populations.
About BARDA Accelerator Network