BioTools Innovator VANGUARD Non-Dilutive Funding Program
Awards of up to $200,000 for the development, evaluation, and validation of enabling technologies and biomedical research tools to advance health security and enhance pandemic preparedness.
Non-Dilutive Funding to Advance Enabling Technologies for Biomanufacturing, Bioanalysis, and Biopharmaceutical Discovery and Development
BioTools Innovator VANGUARD is seeking breakthrough tools and technologies that enable and accelerate biological research, diagnostics, and therapeutic development. BTI VANGUARD invites startups and university-backed projects to submit proposals for non-dilutive funding ranging from $50K to $200K. This funding will support technical development, evaluation, and validation projects towards innovative solutions aligned with BARDA’s mission to enhance pandemic preparedness and health security.
If you’re building tools that will define the next frontier in biology and medicine, apply to join the VANGUARD cohort and accelerate your path to impact with expert support, funding, and strategic visibility.
Applications close on September 30
Applications Open on September 1
We accept applications on a rolling basis for enabling technologies that align with BARDA priorities. As new funding becomes available, or if BARDA identifies an urgent need, your application may be reviewed off-cycle. Submit an application
Milestone-based awards of $50K–$200K support 6-month projects focused on the:
- Development
- Evaluation
- Validation
Of novel approaches for enabling the detection, treatment, diagnosis, and overall response to pathogens and the consequences of biological threats in BARDA’s mission space
We are especially interested in platforms that improve precision, scalability, reproducibility, or accessibility in life science workflows and clinical care coordination. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Advanced Assays and Reagents for omics, cell-based, and imaging applications to speed up medical countermeasure development
- Drug Candidate Identification Technologies (including in silico models) that can identify new or repurposed candidates that address health security threats
- AI-Based Tools/Algorithms and Automation to develop predictive analytics and/or model process parameters to expedite biopharmaceutical manufacturing of medical countermeasures
- Novel Sample Prep, Automation, or Miniaturization Tools to speed up development of MCMs and biomanufacturing capabilities
- Analytical Platforms applicable to multiple Vaccines/Therapeutic Products with a focus on rapid Critical Quality Assurance analytical testing technologies for Drug Substances and Drug Products to harmonize release assays and potency assays
- Digital Twin Approaches using Multimodal Clinical Data, including AI (e.g., EHR, imaging, unstructured notes) to enable early identification, endotyping, or treatment guidance for disease severity to enable early intervention
- Integrated Bioprocess Optimization combined with modeling to establish control strategy and expedite manufacturing of medical countermeasures
- Novel Approaches for Generation of Polyclonal Recombinant Antibodies to treat infectious diseases
*More information on BARDA areas of interest
BARDA also recently released TPPs relevant to some of its areas of interest
Startups and projects will receive project management support and regular mentoring from subject matter experts over the 6-month award duration.
Funds Can Be Used To
Demonstrate proof-of-concept for a BARDA-relevant use case for an existing platform technology
Demonstrate proof-of-concept for “high-risk” breakthrough technologies
Advance technologies currently in development to the next value inflection point
BARDA primarily develops medical countermeasures to counter acute threats and does not support research and development or acceleration in the areas of oncology or chronic disease. However, BARDA does partner with innovators and companies developing platform and multi-use technologies. Applicants can include data from other use cases so long as BARDA funding will be used to support research and development of the BARDA-relevant use cases.
The next application cycle will open in the fall of 2025
Looking for off-cycle funding?
We accept applications on a rolling basis for enabling technologies that align with BARDA priorities. As new funding becomes available, or if BARDA identifies an urgent need, your application may be reviewed off-cycle. Submit an application
2026 Application Process
September 2025
Preliminary Proposal Proposals can be submitted from September 1 through September 30, 2025 to be considered for the next round of review.
November 2025
Full Proposal Invitation We will notify you in November 2025 if you have been selected to submit a full proposal for this cycle (by invitation only).
January 2026
Guided Proposal Revisions Applicants will work with subject matter experts to revise, derisk, and strengthen their submitted proposal.
March 2026
Award Selection First awards are anticipated to be announced in March 2026Who should apply?
BioTools Innovator Vanguard is seeking proposals for the development of innovative enabling technologies, in alignment with BARDA’s mission to promote health security. The VANGUARD initiative supports early stage startups and new technology pipeline development to evaluate and validate the utility of biotools for potential health security applications. Examples of in-scope enabling technologies for health security preparedness:
- Cell culture consumable for a 3D skin organoid model for chemical toxicology, radiation response testing, and drug screening.
- AI-powered single-cell analysis tool to quantify dynamic cellular interactions of pathogens for infectious disease research and high-throughput anti-microbial screening.
- High-throughput antigen screening workflow utilizing peptide sequencing and single-cell monitoring of T cell activation for the development of therapeutics to emerging influenza viruses.
- Enzyme-based reagent kit for high accuracy, rapid, decentralized full-length gene manufacturing.
- AI-enabled simulation platform for optimized bioprocess scale-up.
BTI VANGUARD Non-Dilutive Funding Information Session
View our FAQs
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
9:00am-10:00am PT (12:00-1:00pm ET)
To learn more about the VANGUARD funding solicitation, please join us for a livestreamed informational webinar hosted by our team on Zoom. You can also read our FAQs.
FAQs
Innovations in drug discovery and development; biomanufacturing to increase speed, capacity, portability, and scalability; and clinical research and clinical care coordination aligned with BARDA’s mission.
For more information on BARDA areas of interest, visit https://drive.hhs.gov/partner.html.
BARDA also recently released TPPs relevant to some of its areas of interest: https://medicalcountermeasures.gov/barda/tpp.
We are accepting proposals from early-stage biotech companies as well as academic and other innovators globally.
We are accepting proposals from early-stage biotech companies as well as academic and other innovators globally. Companies and individuals are welcome to submit an application for the Accelerator Program and a proposal for non-dilutive (DEV) funding from BTI VANGUARD. Applications and proposals will be reviewed independently. Solicitations for both the Accelerator Program and non-dilutive (DEV) funding opportunities will be open on an annual basis.
No, SAM.gov registration is not required.
- Preliminary Proposal Deadline: November 30, 2024
- Notification of Awards: By February 28, 2025
- Program Start: March 2025
Proposals will be evaluated with a particular focus on 1) the ability of the technology in the proposal to support BARDA’s mission, 2) the uniqueness of the innovation and its ability to address unmet needs, and 3) the capacity for the proposed use of funds to advance the technology to the next value inflection point.
It is anticipated that project milestones will be completed in 6 months from the start of the project, and that the funding will be spent during this time period. Project management and mentor support will be provided during this 6-month period. BTI VANGUARD and BARDA also understand that unforeseen and unpredicted events happen during development, evaluation and validation activities.
There will be reporting requirements on a quarterly basis, based on milestones achievement, and a final report.
Allow expenses for the non-dilutive funds from BTI VANGUARD include: direct costs for development, evaluation, or validation activities, and labor for personnel or CROs “doing the work”.
Companies and individuals that receive funding from BTI VANGUARD will have access to BARDA subject matter experts and other related BARDA resources. Access to these BARDA resources will be managed and coordinated by the BTI VANGUARD Team.
A technology that aligns to the BTI VANGUARD Hub might also be aligned to some of the other BAN Hubs, including Therapeutics/Vaccines and Diagnostics/Medical Devices. Organizations should also look into open Areas of Interest for the BARDA DRIVe EZ-BAA funding opportunity and other BARDA funding and partnership opportunities. The decision about which Hub or program to apply to is up to the organization.
- BARDA DRIVe: https://drive.hhs.gov/partner.html
- BARDA BAA funding: https://medicalcountermeasures.gov/barda/barda-baa/
- BARDA’s main page: www.medicalcountermeasures.gov
For additional information and questions, please contact vanguard@biotoolsinnovator.org.