Innovators Could Receive up to $8M for Early Detection of Sepsis and Pathogens

HHS announces new funding opportunities through DRIVe program.

Innovators developing solutions targeting early detection of sepsis or exposure to pathogens, including wearable devices, may be eligible for up to $8 million in funding opportunities through a special initiative offered through the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

The HHS Division of Research, Innovation, and Ventures (DRIVe), which operates under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), is seeking medical product developers, research teams, and companies offering disruptive solutions to health security threats. Interested parties are invited to review the "Special Instructions" opportunity and submit materials by 3:00 p.m. (ET) on May 28.

DRIVe was launched last June "to bring together the best ideas from the medical and scientific communities, together with government and venture capital investment, to drive innovation that will strengthen our nation’s health security," according to the website. Since that time, numerous companies have received funds for further development of their solutions, totaling $6,414,025.

This latest opportunity targets more mature technologies to protect from the most serious systemic, natural, and international health security threats, according to a news release. Those seeking under $749,000 in funding for innovations in the early stages of development should apply separately under the division's EZ BAA program.

"Unlike the EZ BAA, this solicitation focusses on just two impact areas and is intended for specific targeted focus areas," according to the release. Those include:

• The Early Notification to Act Control and Treat (ENACT) which seeks on-person, wearable, and biosensing devices (host response and direct pathogen detection); host-based diagnostic devices; indirect indicators and artificial intelligence for prediction; and biomarker discovery and panel validation.
   
• Solving Sepsis, which seeks advanced research and development of sepsis diagnostics and devices, post-sepsis monitoring, pediatric devices, and implementation science technologies.

Interested partied are encouraged to reach out to ENACT or Solving Sepsis teams before applying. Further details about the opportunities are available at solicitation on FedBizOpps (see Modification #08).