QUICKFIRE

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Janssen Research & Development, LLC and BARDA will collaborate on a global challenge for reimagined, transformative respiratory protection. Traditional respiratory protective devices used to protect against inhalation of harmful infectious agents were designed for use in occupational settings, to guard against inhalation of dangerous particulates. Disposable versions, such as N95 respirators, are only available for adults, must be fit-tested to ensure proper functioning, and can be uncomfortable to wear. In an outbreak of a novel or newly emerging respiratory disease, respiratory protection may be the only countermeasure available to protect health care workers and the general public. Janssen Research & Development, LLC will partner with JLABS, which exists to foster innovation in health care products and executes QuickFire Challenges for health care innovation. There is no direct equivalent of the QuickFire Challenge services for innovation specific to health care as is provided by JLABS. Its unique service will directly benefit BARDA's mission to make available medical countermeasures to address health security threats. Supporting innovation is an authority provided to BARDA under the Public Health Service Act and partnering with a company providing a diverse array of products and leveraging its expertise and infrastructure has the potential to provide solutions to the challenges in developing new respiratory devices. Reimagined, innovative respiratory protection would contribute directly to ASPR's mission to save lives and protect Americans against 21st Century health security threats. Respiratory protection is often the first line of defense, and a radically improved approach to protect both health care workers and the general public, including children, would truly improve our ability to respond to public health emergencies. By generating interest and focusing innovation efforts on reimagining respiratory protection, BARDA's goal for the QuickFire Challenge is for the resulting innovative approaches to be eligible for continued testing and development and eventual regulatory approval, so that these revolutionary products can be widely available and used.

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