The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will collaborate with Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS to develop and maintain a specialized innovation zone at the new JLABS @ Washington, DC campus that will be dedicated to the advancement of medical countermeasures aimed at securing our nation from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as from pandemic influenza and emerging infectious diseases.
JLABS @ Washington, DC is a 32,000-square foot facility to be located at the new Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus in Washington, DC. This Children’s National expansion is set on a nearly 12-acre portion of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus in the nation’s capital. The co-location of the Research and Innovation Campus with key partners in the areas of public health research, innovation and incubator space is critical to accelerating the translation of potential breakthrough discoveries into new treatments and technologies. The JLABS @ Washington, DC site will be open to pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer and health technology companies that are aiming to advance the development of new drugs, medical devices, precision diagnostics and health technologies.
The BARDA innovation zone will provide residency for eligible companies and entrepreneurs focused on solutions with the potential to improve our nation’s response capacity and capabilities to address 21st century health security threats.
“Collaboration is at the heart of our efforts to change the trajectory of health for humanity. We are proud to once again collaborate with Children’s National and BARDA, with the goal of speeding healthcare innovation in the greater Washington, DC metro area to the benefit of all,” said William N. Hait, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Johnson & Johnson External Innovation.
This agreement further builds on established collaborations between Janssen Research & Development LLC (Janssen) and BARDA to accelerate new therapies and vaccines to protect communities against these threats and seeks to leverage JLABS’ experience catalyzing communities of entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders to further promote and support the development of related treatments and prevention solutions.
“Our nation faces serious, evolving health security threats, and mounting a rapid and effective response against those threats requires innovative, end-to-end solutions,” said Rick Bright, Ph.D., BARDA Director and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. “We are thrilled to continue our strategic partnership with JLABS, foster the culture of innovation within the nation’s capital and expand our pipeline of new solutions to help save lives in public health emergencies.”
“Through our collaboration with BARDA, we aim to leverage entrepreneurship, bold thinking and a diverse stakeholder ecosystem to help advance new medical countermeasures aimed at protecting both our nation and the citizens of the world,” noted said Melinda Richter, Global Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS. “These threats deserve the exponential strength and ingenuity of the brightest minds and this collaboration will give them the platform to address these threats.”
