The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2024 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 20, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 21.
Next is Gary L. Disbrow, deputy assistant secretary and the director of the Center for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and finalist in the Healthcare Executive of the Year, Government, category. Here, he talks about recent achievements, shares career advice and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2024?
The fastest response to any public health emergency, domestic or international, is to have FDA approved products ready for deployment. In FY24, BARDA supported 11 FDA approvals of vaccines, therapeutics or diagnostics that cut across our threat space; chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats; pandemic influenza; and emerging infectious diseases. This brings the total number of BARDA supported FDA approvals to 95.
Critically important for national security, BARDA increased the nation’s preparedness posture against H5N1 circulating in dairy cattle and other animals, with multiple infections in humans due to direct contact with infected animals. We have manufactured and made ready vaccine that could be deployed, if needed. Thanks to our smallpox preparedness work, BARDA supported the Administration’s response to the mpox outbreak that is occurring in countries in Africa. The donation of 1 million doses of JYNNEOS vaccine will come from BARDA stocks. BARDA initiated its response to the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda. In collaboration with WHO, BARDA is working with international partners to make therapeutics and vaccines available to Rwanda. We were also successful in expanding membership and making our first awards under two unique, consortium models. One for research and development and a second for domestic manufacturing, supply chain, and supporting the manufacturing workforce.
A key lesson learned from the COVID-19 response is that individuals in less populated, suburban, or rural areas do not have access to clinical trials. To ensure a diverse enrollment to evaluate safety and efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics, BARDA initiated two decentralized clinical trials. One is focused on home collection of samples and the second is a pharmacy based clinical trial.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
A focus on innovative solutions to product development under our DRIVe Division that supports our Blue Knight program, a partnership with J&J JLABs; our BARDA Ventures program, partnered with a private equity firm; and our new accelerator network, five locations across the U.S., each with a unique focus and able to support innovators with unique solutions.
Another major focus will be on platform technologies and threat agnostic products to improve our preparedness and response capabilities to address known and potential unknown pathogens with high mortality and transmissibility.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Be kind, transparent and inclusive. Rarely does an individual do something alone. It takes a team to accomplish great things. Teams appreciate the acknowledgment by senior leaders for their work, transparency in decision making, and being approachable so they know they can bring ideas or issues to a senior leader without concern.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know about? (Hobbies, passions, etc?)
I took up painting with acrylics during the COVID-19 response. The response and the role BARDA played in developing vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever been a part of; one I hope to never have to repeat. To relieve stress, I started painting in the wee hours of the morning and have shared those paintings with the BARDA team, encouraging them to find something they are passionate about to help relieve stress and provide a bit of a respite from the incredibly stressful roles we play in preparedness and response.