Executive Summary
The Paratus Digital Health Accelerator is the BARDA Accelerator Network hub for digital health. MATTER runs it with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at HHS. The Year 3 call offers non-dilutive, milestone-based awards of up to $200,000 per project for proof-of-concept work lasting up to six months. Applications are due January 15, 2027. Paratus does not publish a time zone for the deadline, so plan to submit at least a day early.
The call is open to companies and academic innovators with strong concepts, initial product-market fit and business model potential. It has four focus areas: field detection of infection or injury after radiological or nuclear incidents, algorithms for radiological injury assessment, data-driven tools for clinical trial readiness and recruitment, and an open topic for digital health solutions that strengthen health security. If your solution falls outside those areas, or you miss the deadline, Paratus also runs an always-on Alternate Solution portal that it reviews on a rolling basis.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: BARDA (ASPR, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), through the Paratus Digital Health Accelerator run by MATTER
- Opportunity: Paratus Digital Health Accelerator Non-Dilutive Funding, Year 3
- Award Vehicle: Milestone-based, non-dilutive funding through the BARDA Accelerator Network
- Funding: Up to $200,000 per project (Paratus lists its general range as $50,000 to $200,000)
- Duration: Up to six months, with funding expected to begin in summer 2027
- Technology Maturity: Early-stage tools with strong concepts, initial product-market fit and business model potential
- Due Date: January 15, 2027 (no time zone published)
- Rolling Route: Alternate Solution portal, reviewed continuously
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the January 15, 2027 deadline.
What Is the Paratus Digital Health Accelerator?
Paratus is one of the hubs in BARDA's Accelerator Network, which supports health security innovators, startups and BARDA portfolio companies. Paratus is the hub for digital health. Through its non-dilutive funding program, it pays for proof-of-concept studies that develop, evaluate or validate digital health tools aligned with BARDA's mission to strengthen pandemic preparedness and health security.
The program runs virtually. Awardees get project management support and regular mentoring from subject matter experts and industry leaders. Paratus also has study site partners, and the cost of working with a study site can be built into the project's funding.
What Problem Is BARDA Trying to Solve?
BARDA develops medical countermeasures for public health emergencies caused by chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, pandemic influenza and emerging infectious diseases. Paratus looks for digital health tools that help the nation prepare for, respond to and recover from those emergencies. That includes detecting injury or infection earlier in the field, assessing radiological injury more precisely, and getting clinical trials for countermeasures started faster.
Priority Capability Areas: What Paratus Is Looking For
- Field-deployable detection after radiological or nuclear incidents: Early-stage devices, sensors or other diagnostic technologies for rapid detection of infection or injury, including internal hemorrhage and burn wounds, in field settings or austere environments.
- Algorithms for radiological injury assessment and decision support: Tools that integrate physiologic, clinical or sensor-derived data to improve assessment and management of radiological injury. Examples include non-invasive blood pressure monitoring during permissive hypotension, precision monitoring of physiological reserve and resuscitation end points, and rapid assessment of radiation-induced injury.
- Data-driven tools for clinical trial readiness and recruitment: Tools that use data analytics, real-world data, predictive modeling or other computational methods to speed clinical study start-up. Examples include identifying and prioritizing clinical sites, and rapidly identifying and screening eligible trial participants.
- Open topic, digital health for health security: Novel digital health tools that fall outside the areas above but advance medical countermeasures and the continuum of clinical care for public health emergencies.
Funding and What It Can Be Used For
Paratus awards up to $200,000 per project for up to six months. Funding is milestone-based and non-dilutive. Paratus says funds can be used to:
- Advance a technology to its next milestone and value inflection point
- Engage a study site to complete validation work
- Increase access, reduce cost and deploy medical countermeasures faster
- Advance platforms that improve clinical research and clinical care coordination
Awardees also gain exposure to the MATTER community and the chance to present to potential investors, partners and clients.
Eligibility and Participation
- Who can apply: Companies and academic innovators. Paratus describes the call as a global call for solutions.
- Stage: Strong concepts, initial product-market fit and business model potential.
- One application per team.
- Not supported: Gain-of-function research, or research that manipulates pathogens in ways that could result in gain of function.
- Mission fit: Projects must align with BARDA's health security mission.
How to Apply
- Register for the information webinar: Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 11:00 to 11:45 AM CST.
- Review the study examples and terms: Paratus posts study project examples and its BARDA terms and conditions on the challenge page.
- Submit by January 15, 2027: A web application, project statement of work (SOW) and pitch deck through MATTER's Submittable portal.
- Use the Alternate Solution portal if your solution doesn't fit the focus areas or you miss the deadline. Paratus reviews these submissions continuously and invites full proposals based on BARDA's needs and available funds.
What Happens After You Submit?
- March 2027: Shortlisted teams are invited to a deep-dive session on their proposed project.
- Spring to June 2027: Negotiations with potential awardees and final award decisions.
- Summer 2027: Milestone-based funding and program services begin, for up to six months.
These dates are as Paratus published them and may shift.
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
This is a strong fit for digital health companies, including software, analytics and sensor companies, whose tool can help detect, assess or respond to health emergencies, or help get countermeasure trials running sooner. It is especially useful if you have a working product that needs validation at a clinical study site, since Paratus can match you with one.
If your use case isn't tied to health security, emergency response or medical countermeasures, this probably isn't the right door. An NIH SBIR may fit better. If your technology is a therapeutic, diagnostic device or research tool rather than digital health, BARDA's other accelerator hubs may be a better match.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For accelerator funding like Paratus, we help you:
- Decide which focus area, or the Alternate Solution route, fits your technology best
- Frame your project around BARDA's health security mission and the five selection criteria
- Write a tight statement of work with clear, milestone-based deliverables
- Build a pitch deck that shows feasibility, differentiation and your team's ability to execute
- Line up a follow-on path, such as an NIH or CDC SBIR, so a Paratus award leads somewhere
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does Paratus offer?
Up to $200,000 per project for up to six months. Paratus lists its general range as $50,000 to $200,000.
Is the funding dilutive?
No. Awards are non-dilutive and milestone-based.
Who can apply?
Companies and academic innovators. Paratus describes the Year 3 call as a global call for solutions, and it's looking for strong concepts with initial product-market fit and business model potential.
When is the deadline?
January 15, 2027. Paratus does not publish a time zone, so submit early.
What do I need to submit?
A web application, a project statement of work and a pitch deck, through MATTER's Submittable portal.
What if my solution doesn't fit the focus areas?
Use the always-on Alternate Solution portal. Paratus reviews those submissions continuously and invites full proposals based on BARDA's strategic needs and available funds.
Is there an information session?
Yes. Paratus is holding an information webinar on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 11:00 to 11:45 AM CST.
How are applications evaluated?
On five criteria: how clearly you state the problem; the quality, feasibility and scalability of your solution; how it stands out from competitors; your team's ability to develop and execute it; and fit to BARDA's mission.
Can my team submit more than one application?
No. Applications are limited to one per team.
Can BW&CO help with a Paratus submission?
Yes. We can help you choose the right focus area, shape your statement of work and pitch deck, and plan your next funding step. Book a call with our team.
Source: Paratus Digital Health Accelerator, Non-dilutive Funding Year 3 (MATTER)