ARPA-H Opportunities
*Updated 11/7*
ARPA-H Overview
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is a research funding agency that supports transformative biomedical and health breakthroughs – ranging from the molecular to the societal – to provide health solutions for all. Below are the current open NIH ARPA-H opportunities and due dates. If you have not applied to ARPA-H or have questions about the program and/or opportunities (or missed the Proposer's Day), please contact Quyen Wickham (quyen.wickham@asu.edu). Some of these opportunities may be limited submissions.
OCULAB
The Ocular Laboratory for Analysis of Biomarkers (OCULAB) program envisions a wearable biomarker measurement system that allows for simultaneous, continuous monitoring of tear biomarkers. Because tears are clear and water-based, they offer a way to measure hormones, vitamins, and proteins with less risk to foul the delicate sensor than blood. Additionally, the OCULAB system aims to provide ultra-precise medication dosing for a personalized treatment via a closed-loop delivery system. The program aims to create a tear-based biomarker measurement system that can be inserted into the tear duct.
- Hybrid Proposers’ Day (registration closes Dec 5): December 12 in Tampa, FL
- Solution Summaries due: Jan 27, 2025
- Full Proposals due: April 14, 2025
CATALYST
Computational ADME-Tox and Physiology Analysis for Safer Therapeutics (CATALYST) program envisions a future where approval to begin first in-human clinical trials can be based on in silico safety data. The program focuses on developing animal-free, sound experimental practice methods with specific attention to pharmacokinetics, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), and pharmacodynamics, for safety and toxicity. CATALYST will pursue novel technologies that reliably represent human physiology to reduce the failure rate of investigational new drug candidates. Such technologies will ensure that medicines reaching clinical trials have confident safety profiles and better protect diverse trial participants and future patients.
- Solution Summaries due: November 25
- Full Proposals due: January 31
GLIDE
The Groundbreaking Lymphatic Interventions and Drug Exploration (GLIDE) program aims to develop physical, pharmacologic, gene, and cell-based therapeutic interventions to treat primary and rare lymphatic disease and chronic conditions complicated by lymphatic dysfunction.
- Solution Summaries due: Dec 2
Mission Office-specific Innovative Solutions Openings (ISO)
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is accepting submissions to its Mission Office-specific ISOs:
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Health Science Futures - Accelerating advances across research areas and removing limitations that stymie progress towards solutions for broad ranges of disease and conditions. ISO link on SAM.gov.
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Proactive Health - Creating capabilities to detect and characterize disease risk and promote treatments and behaviors to anticipate threats whether viral, bacterial, chemical, physical, or psychological. ISO link on SAM.gov.
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Resilient Systems - Addressing systemic challenges across the healthcare and public health landscape by investing in cutting-edge technologies that address long-standing gaps in the quality, efficacy, and consistent availability of care. ISO link on SAM.gov.
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Scalable Solutions - Addressing challenges including geography, distribution, manufacturing, data and information, and economies of scale to develop impactful, timely, and equitable solutions. ISO link on SAM.gov.
Each Mission Office ISO calls for proposals that outline revolutionary—not evolutionary— research and technological advancements. Proposals should investigate unconventional approaches and challenge accepted assumptions to enable leaps forward in science, technology, systems, or related capabilities. Exact award amounts and continued support depend upon projects meeting aggressive research milestones. While the closing date for Solutions Summaries is March 3, 2025, it's advisable to submit as early as possible.
Exploration Topics
Exploration Topics (ETs) are fast-paced efforts that pursue topics strategically aligned with ARPA-H Mission Offices. They provide foundational proofs-of-concept to be used in future research. They also allow for a streamlined solicitation and acquisition approach.
DECIDE-ET
Decentralized Engineering of Cells Informed by Dynamic Evidence (DECIDE) aims to advance new quality assurance technologies and accelerate the collection of evidence necessary to establish reimbursement pathways for rare disease therapies. If successful, ARPA-H believes the work in this arena would increase patients’ access to life-changing therapies from Academic Medical Centers (AMCs).
- Proposal due date: November 18