View source for Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health

{{Organization
|OrganizationName=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
|OrganizationType=Research and Development Agencies
|Mission=ARPA-H aims to accelerate better health outcomes for everyone by supporting the development of high-impact solutions to society's most challenging health problems, driving biomedical breakthroughs from molecular to societal levels.
|ParentOrganization=Department of Health and Human Services
|TopOrganization=Department of Health and Human Services
|CreationLegislation=Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022
|Budget=1500000000
|OrganizationExecutive=Director
|Services=Funding High-Risk, High-Reward Research; Biomedical Innovation
|HeadquartersLocation=38.89511, -77.03637
|Website=https://www.arpa-h.gov/
}}
{{Short description|United States federal agency}}

{{Infobox government agency
| name            = Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
| seal            = 
| logo            = 
| formed          = {{start date and age|2022|03|15}}
| jurisdiction    = [[Federal Government of the United States]]
| employees       = 
| budget          = 
| chief1_name     = [[Renee Wegrzyn]]
| chief1_position = Director
| chief2_name     = [[Susan Coller Monarez]]
| chief2_position = Deputy Director
| chief3_name     = 
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| parent_department = [[Department of Health and Human Services]]
| website         = {{URL|arpa-h.gov}}
}}

'''Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)''' is a U.S. government agency tasked with supporting transformative research to drive biomedical and health breakthroughs, focusing on projects that could not be readily accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity. It seeks to address health challenges through innovative, high-risk, high-reward research initiatives.

It is an agency within the [[Department of Health and Human Services]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-10 |title=Russell Named Acting Deputy Director for New Advanced Research Entity |url=https://nihrecord.nih.gov/2022/06/10/russell-named-acting-deputy-director-new-advanced-research-entity |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=[[NIH Record]] |language=EN}}</ref> Its mission is to "make pivotal investments in break-through technologies and broadly applicable platforms, capabilities, resources, and solutions that have the potential to transform important areas of medicine and health for the benefit of all patients and that cannot readily be accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity."<ref>{{cite web |title=ARPA-H Mission |url=https://www.nih.gov/arpa-h/mission |publisher=National Institutes of Health (NIH) |access-date=27 April 2022 |language=EN |date=29 June 2021}}</ref>

{{Official URL (simple)|url=https://www.arpa-h.gov/}}

==Mission==

ARPA-H's mission is to accelerate the pace of biomedical breakthroughs to enhance health outcomes. By focusing on high-risk, high-reward projects, ARPA-H aims to catalyze innovations in health care, from molecular discoveries to societal applications, to provide transformative solutions for all individuals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arpa-h.gov/about |title=About ARPA-H |publisher=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Parent organization==

ARPA-H is housed within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), contributing to the broader mission of improving health and well-being across the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hhs.gov/ |title=HHS.gov |publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Legislation==

ARPA-H was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, which authorized its creation and provided initial funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2471 |title=H.R.2471 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Partners==

- Various federal, state, and local government agencies
- Academic institutions for collaborative research
- Non-profit organizations in health research and innovation

==Number of employees==

The exact number of employees at ARPA-H is not specified in the available references.

==Organization structure==

ARPA-H's structure is designed to foster innovation:

===Leader===

The organization is led by a Director.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arpa-h.gov/about/leadership |title=Leadership |publisher=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>

===Divisions===
* Program Offices for managing specific research portfolios.
* Innovation Office to scout for new ideas and technologies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arpa-h.gov/about/organization |title=Organization |publisher=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>

==List of programs==

* [[DIGIHEALS]] - Digital Health Applications for Everyone.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arpa-h.gov/programs/digiheals |title=DIGIHEALS |publisher=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Sprint for Women's Health]] - Addressing critical health challenges in women's health.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arpa-h.gov/programs/sprint-for-womens-health |title=Sprint for Women's Health |publisher=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>
* [[PROSPR Program]]: Aimed at extending the healthspan of Americans by preventing age-related diseases.
* [[BREATHE Initiative]]: Focused on improving indoor air quality in buildings to enhance health outcomes.

==Last total enacted budget==

ARPA-H received a budget allocation of $1.5 billion through Fiscal Year 2025 as part of President Biden's omnibus appropriations bill.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2021/09/30/advanced-research-projects-agency-for-health-arpa-h/ |title=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) |publisher=The White House |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Staff==

Information on the specific number of staff members at ARPA-H is not detailed in the provided references.

==Funding==

ARPA-H's funding comes from federal appropriations, with an initial allocation of $6.5 billion requested for three years in the FY 2022 budget proposal, later adjusted to a $1.5 billion commitment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2021/09/30/advanced-research-projects-agency-for-health-arpa-h/ |title=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) |publisher=The White House |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Services provided==

ARPA-H provides funding, support, and a framework for high-risk, high-reward health research projects. It focuses on creating platforms and technologies that can lead to significant health improvements, addressing challenges not met by traditional research or commercial efforts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arpa-h.gov/about |title=About ARPA-H |publisher=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Regulations overseen==

As ARPA-H is not a regulatory body, it does not directly oversee any regulations but operates within the regulatory environment set by HHS and other federal health agencies.

==Headquarters address==

The exact address for ARPA-H's headquarters is not publicly listed; however, one of its hubs is located in the Washington metropolitan area.

==History==

ARPA-H was created to emulate the success of DARPA in defense, bringing a similar approach to health research. The agency was officially established in 2022 with the aim of accelerating medical breakthroughs. The initial director, Renee Wegrzyn, was appointed in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Research_Projects_Agency_for_Health |title=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health - Wikipedia |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Creation==
ARPA-H was approved by Congress with the passing of H.R. 2471, the [[Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022]] and was signed into Public Law 117-103 by U.S. President [[Joe Biden]] on March 15, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jeffries |first1=Hakeem S. |title=H.R.2471 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2471 |website=www.congress.gov |access-date=27 April 2022 |date=15 March 2022}} Division H, Title II. Page 136 STAT. 465 contains relevant passage.</ref> 15 days later Health and Human Services Secretary [[Xavier Becerra]] announced that the agency will have access to the resources of the National Institutes of Health, but will answer to the [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services|U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mesa |first1=Natalie |title=ARPA-H to Be Within NIH but Independently Managed by HHS |url=https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/arpa-h-to-be-within-nih-but-independently-managed-by-hhs-69862 |access-date=27 April 2022 |work=The Scientist Magazine |date=1 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The agency initially has a $1 billion budget to be used before fiscal year 2025 (October 2024) and the Biden administration has requested much more funding from Congress. On September 13, 2022, Biden announced his intent to appoint [[Renee Wegrzyn]], formerly of the DARPA biotech office, as the agency's inaugural director, but it is still unknown where its headquarters will be located.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kozlov |first1=Max |title=Billion-dollar US health agency gets new chief — but its direction remains in limbo |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02934-y |publisher=[[Nature_(journal)|Nature]] |access-date=14 September 2022 |date=13 September 2022}}</ref>

In December 2022, the [[Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023]] (Pub.L. 117-328) provided $1.5 billion for ARPA-H for fiscal year 2023. The Biden administration requested and received $2.5 billion for FY2024, and had spent $400 million in research grants by August 13, 2024.<ref name="Tausche 2024">{{cite web | last=Tausche | first=Kayla | title=With ‘Cancer Moonshot’ announcement, Biden turns to causes most important to him in final months in office | website=CNN | date=August 13, 2024 | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/13/politics/biden-to-highlight-closest-causes-in-final-months-in-office/index.html | access-date=August 16, 2024}}</ref>

In March 2023, ARPA-H announced one of its three headquarters locations would be in the [[Washington metropolitan area]].<ref>{{cite report|url=https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R47568.pdf |author=Kavya Sekar |author2=Marcy E. Gallo |title=Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H): Overview and Selected Issues (Report 47568)|date=May 23, 2023|publisher=Congressional Research Service|access-date=July 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{USPL|117|328}}, Division FF, Title II (page 420 of engrossed bill)</ref> In September 2023, ARPA-H announced that a second hub would be located in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]] following a bid led by [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] [[Richard Neal]] from [[Massachusetts's 1st congressional district]] and [[University of Massachusetts|University of Massachusetts System]] President [[Marty Meehan]] to have the agency locate a hub in the [[Biotechnology industry in Boston|Greater Boston area]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Weisman|first1=Robert|last2=Chesto|first2=Jon|date=September 26, 2023|title=Cambridge picked as a national hub for new federal health research agency|work=The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/09/26/business/cambridge-arpa-h-hub/|access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Chesto|first=Jon|date=May 16, 2022|title=The feds are choosing a headquarters for a federal health research center. Why not pick Boston?|work=The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/16/business/feds-choosing-hq-federal-health-research-center-why-not-boston/|access-date=May 20, 2022}}</ref> The third patient engagement-focused hub was established in Dallas, Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pandey |first=Maia |date=2023-09-26 |title=Dallas selected as one of three national hubs for new medical innovation federal agency |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/26/dallas-arpha-h-national-hub/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

== History == 
The [[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (DARPA, formerly ARPA) has been the military's in-house innovator since 1958, a year after the USSR launched [[Sputnik]]. DARPA is widely known for creating [[ARPAnet]], the predecessor of the [[internet]], and has been instrumental in advancing hardened electronics, [[Brain–computer interface|brain-computer interface]] technology, [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drone]]s, and [[stealth technology]]. Inspired by the success of DARPA, in 2002 the [[HSARPA|Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (HSARPA) was created and in 2006 the [[Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity]] (IARPA) was created. This was followed by the [[Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy]] (ARPA-E) in 2009 and the [[ARPA-I|Advanced Research Projects Agency–Infrastructure]] (ARPA-I) in 2022. DARPA also inspired the [[Advanced Research and Invention Agency]] in the UK and in 2021 the Biden administration proposed ARPA-C for climate research.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tollefson |first1=Jeff |title=The rise of 'ARPA-everything' and what it means for science |journal=Nature |date=22 July 2021 |volume=595 |issue=7868 |pages=483–484 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-01878-z |pmid=34244687 |bibcode=2021Natur.595..483T |s2cid=235787224 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01878-z |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref>

[[Bob Wright#The Suzanne Wright Foundation|The Suzanne Wright Foundation]] proposed "HARPA" in 2017 to focus on pancreatic cancer and other challenging diseases.<ref>{{cite web |title=HARPA: Health Advanced Research Projects Agency |url=https://www.harpa.org/ |publisher=The Suzanne Wright Foundation |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref> A white paper was published by former Obama White House staffers, [[Michael Stebbins]] and [[Geoffrey Ling]] through the Day One Project that [https://www.dayoneproject.org/ideas/creating-the-health-advanced-research-projects-agency-harpa/ proposed] the creation of a new federal agency modeled on DARPA, but focused on health. That proposal was adopted by President Biden's campaign and was the model used for establishing ARPA-H.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stebbins |first1=Michael |last2=Ling |first2=Geoffrey |title=Creating the Health Advanced Research Projects Agency (HARPA) |website=Federation of American Scientists |date=19 April 2020 |url=https://www.dayoneproject.org/ideas/creating-the-health-advanced-research-projects-agency-harpa |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref> In June 2021 noted biologists [[Francis S. Collins]] (then head of the NIH), [[Tara A. Schwetz|Tara Schwetz]], [[Lawrence Tabak]], and [[Eric Lander]] penned an article in ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'' supporting the idea.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Collins |first1=Francis S. |last2=Schwetz |first2=Tara A. |last3=Tabak |first3=Lawrence A. |last4=Lander |first4=Eric S. |title=ARPA-H: Accelerating biomedical breakthroughs |journal=Science |date=9 July 2021 |volume=373 |issue=6551 |pages=165–167 |doi=10.1126/science.abj8547|pmid=34244402 |bibcode=2021Sci...373..165C |s2cid=235769725 }}</ref> Dr. Collins became an important champion of the idea on Capitol Hill and the legislation garnered numerous sponsors in the [[117th United States Congress|117th Congress]].

In September 2022, [[Renee Wegrzyn]] was appointed as the agency's inaugural director.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-12 |title=President Biden Announces Intent to Appoint Dr. Renee Wegrzyn as Inaugural Director of Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/12/president-biden-announces-intent-to-appoint-dr-renee-wegrzyn-as-inaugural-director-of-advanced-research-projects-agency-for-health-arpa-h/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=DARPA Forward {{!}} Dr. Renee Wegrzyn |url=https://forward.darpa.mil/presenters/Dr_Renee_Wegrzyn |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=forward.darpa.mil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=2022-09-12  |title=Biden's new biomedical innovation agency gets its first director |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/biden-s-new-biomedical-innovation-agency-gets-its-first-director |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=www.science.org |language=en |doi=10.1126/science.ade8505}}</ref>

== Research == 
A White House white paper identifies a number of potential directions for technological development that could occur under the direction of ARPA-H, including cancer vaccines, pandemic preparedness, and prevention technologies, less intrusive wearable blood glucose monitors, and patient-specific T-cell therapies.<ref>{{cite web |title=ARPA-H Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/092921-ARPA-H-FAQ.pdf |publisher=The White House |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref> Additionally, the proposal suggests that ARPA-H focus on platforms to reduce health disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality and improve how medications provided are taken.

One of the first grants from the organization was part of if it’s DIGIHEALS initiative to  innovative research that aims to protect the United States health care system against hostile online threats. Christian Dameff and [[Jeff Tully]], medical doctors and medical cybersecurity researchers University of California San Diego School of Medicine, as well as cybersecurity expert [[Stefan Savage]] were named investigators to the Healthcare Ransomware Resiliency and Response Program, or H-R3P, project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UC San Diego Awarded $9.5 Million to Enhance Cybersecurity in Health Care |url=https://today.ucsd.edu/story/uc-san-diego-awarded-9.5-million-to-enhance-cybersecurity-in-health-care |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=today.ucsd.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-01 |title=DIGIHEALS Awardees {{!}} ARPA-H |url=https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/digiheals/awardees |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=arpa-h.gov |language=en}}</ref>

==External links==
* [https://www.arpa-h.gov/ Official Website]
* [https://www.nih.gov/arpa-h Official website]
* [[wikipedia:Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health]]
* [https://www.hhs.gov/ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]

==References==

<references />

{{National Institutes of Health}}
{{United States research agencies}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National Institutes of Health]]
[[Category:2022 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Research and development in the United States]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 2022]]