Johnson & Johnson Innovation Launches Reimagining Respiratory Protection QuickFire Challenge in Collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS (JLABS), working with Janssen Research & Development, LLC, today announced the launch of the Reimagining Respiratory Protection QuickFire Challenge, in collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a component of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Challenge aims to revolutionize respiratory protection by seeking innovative approaches for devices that have the potential to protect against respiratory infection outbreaks.

As part of the Reimagining Respiratory Protection QuickFire Challenge, up to two winners will be awarded up to $100,000 in grant funding, access to the Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS ecosystem, and mentoring in developing their ideas from BARDA, to aid health security products and technologies in biotechnology, life science research and medical innovations, as they navigate research, development and regulatory pathways.

According to a 2016 United Nations report, the world remains ill-prepared to address the threat posed by epidemics, showing that a virulent strain of an airborne influenza virus has the potential to spread to all major global capitals within 60 days and kill more than 33 million people within 250 days.ⁱ Respirators (medical facemasks) can serve as a critical line of defense in responding to such epidemics. Yet, despite major shortcomings identifiedⁱⁱ within the current design and increasing threats of air pollution and airborne epidemics, respirators have remained largely unchanged for almost five decades, supporting the need to develop new devices that could avoid devastating consequences in the wake of future pandemics.

"Johnson & Johnson's family of companies have a long history of leading and supporting global pandemic preparedness efforts and are actively engaged in addressing unmet needs in multiple disease areas that are central to this QuickFire Challenge," said Melinda Richter, Global Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS. "In an age of tremendous healthcare innovation spurred by technological advances, we believe the time is now to take action and develop new solutions that we believe could ultimately help to improve respiratory safety. Our collaboration with BARDA on the Reimagining Respiratory Protection QuickFire Challenge deepens our engagement with experts working on the frontlines of preparedness."

"This challenge offers the opportunity to uncover and drive innovative, even disruptive, technology to save lives in disease outbreaks, pandemics or other health security threats," said Rick Bright, Ph.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and Director of BARDA. "Respiratory protection devices are often the first line of defense in helping to protect the general public, particularly young children, and healthcare workers. We're excited about partnering with Johnson & Johnson Innovation on this QuickFire Challenge to radically improve the way we respond to public health emergencies moving forward."

The Reimagining Respiratory Protection QuickFire Challenge encourages innovators to submit their novel ideas starting today, October 30, 2018 through February 15, 2019. The winners will be announced later in 2019. For more information about the application process, please visit https://jlabs.tv/reimagine.

The QuickFire Challenge is managed by JLABS, a global network of open innovation ecosystems, enabling and empowering innovators across a broad healthcare spectrum to create and accelerate the delivery of life-saving, life-enhancing health and wellness solutions to patients around the world.

JLABS facilities have incubated more than 450 companies to date, advancing pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer and health tech programs across all JLABS locations: New York City; San Diego; San Francisco; Boston; Lowell; Houston; Toronto; and Beerse. JLABS @ Shanghai will open in 2019.

For more information about the QuickFire Challenges, please visit: https://jlabs.jnjinnovation.com/quickfire-challenges.

About Johnson & Johnson Innovation 

Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC focuses on accelerating all stages of innovation worldwide and forming collaborations between entrepreneurs and Johnson & Johnson's global healthcare businesses. Johnson & Johnson Innovation provides scientists, entrepreneurs and emerging companies with one-stop access to science and technology experts who can facilitate collaborations across the pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer companies of Johnson & Johnson. Under the Johnson & Johnson Innovation umbrella of businesses, we connect with innovators through our regional Innovation Centers; Johnson & Johnson Innovation | JLABS; Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc.; and our business development teams to create customized deals and novel collaborations that speed development of innovations to solve unmet needs in patients. JLABS provides the laboratories, expertise, education, tools and resources needed to help life science startups thrive, all with no strings attached. A Johnson & Johnson Innovation Center for Device Innovation at the Texas Medical Center (CDI @ TMC) has been established to accelerate the development of medical devices. For more information about Johnson & Johnson Innovation, please visit: www.jnjinnovation.com.

About Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS

Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS (JLABS) is a global network of open innovation ecosystems, enabling and empowering innovators across a broad healthcare spectrum including pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer and health tech sectors to create and accelerate the delivery of life-saving, life-enhancing health and wellness solutions to patients around the world. JLABS achieves this by providing the optimal environment for emerging companies to catalyze growth and optimize their research and development by opening them to vital industry connections, delivering entrepreneurial programs and providing a capital-efficient, flexible platform where they can transform the scientific discoveries of today into the breakthrough healthcare solutions of tomorrow. At JLABS, we value great ideas and are passionate about removing obstacles to success to help innovators unleash the potential of their early scientific discoveries. JLABS is a no-strings-attached model, which means entrepreneurs are free to develop their science while holding on to their intellectual property. JLABS also produces campaigns to seek out the best science called QuickFire Challenges. For more information, visit http://jlabs.jnjinnovation.com or follow @JLABS. 

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

At the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, we are working to create a world without disease. Transforming lives by finding new and better ways to prevent, intercept, treat and cure disease inspires us. We bring together the best minds and pursue the most promising science.  Janssen Research & Development, LLC is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

ⁱ United Nations: Protecting Humanity from Future Health Crises Report of the High-Level Panel on the Global Response to Health Crises, January 25, 2016. Accessed online: http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/HLP/2016-02-05_Final_Report_Global_Response_to_Health_Crises.pdf

ⁱⁱ Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene Volume 9, 2012 - Issue 1 Discomfort and Exertion Associated with Prolonged Wear of Respiratory Protection in a Health Care Setting : 14 Dec 2011 Accessed online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15459624.2012.635133

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Innovation