Drs. Michael D. Schwartz and Efrain E. Garcia from Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will present, "BARDA: US Government Efforts for Chemical Medical Countermeasures Advanced Development." 

The purpose of this program is to provide the audience with information on the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).  BARDA is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.  BARDA’s mission is to aid in securing our Nation from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as from pandemic influenza (PI) and emerging infectious diseases (EID).  Specifically, BARDA supports the transition of medical countermeasures such as vaccines, pharmaceuticals, antidotes, devices, and diagnostics from the research stage through advanced development to application for approval by the FDA.  The Chemical Medical Countermeasures Branch at BARDA supports the development and approval of chemical threat countermeasures, both for inclusion in the Strategic National Stockpile as well as for FDA approved use not necessarily associated with a terrorist attack or public health emergency.