May 2, 2007
HHS has announced the establishment of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
The office will reside under the HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response, and its director will report to the assistant secretary.
The BARDA office will manage Project BioShield, which includes the procurement and advanced development of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents, as well as manage the advanced development and procurement of medical countermeasures for pandemic influenza and other emerging infectious diseases that fall outside the auspices of Project BioShield.
BARDA will incorporate all the programs, mission responsibilities and organizational functions previously housed in the HHS Office of Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures, which will be subsumed in the reorganization process.
The department also posted an announcement to fill the position of BARDA director. The department is seeking an individual with extensive experience as a senior executive in drug, biologic or vaccine development in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries as well as overall management experience of research and development programs.
