Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health

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Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
Agency overview
FormedMarch 15, 2022;2 years ago (2022-03-15)
Jurisdiction Federal Government of the United States
Agency executives
Parent department Department of Health and Human Services
Website arpa-h.gov

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. [1] 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." [2]

Contents

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. [3] 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 U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. [4] 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. [5]

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. [6]

In March 2023, ARPA-H announced one of its three headquarters locations would be in the Washington metropolitan area. [7] [8] In September 2023, ARPA-H announced that a second hub would be located in Cambridge, Massachusetts following a bid led by U.S. Representative Richard Neal from Massachusetts's 1st congressional district and University of Massachusetts System President Marty Meehan to have the agency locate a hub in the Greater Boston area. [9] [10] The third patient engagement-focused hub was established in Dallas, Texas. [11]

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 technology, drones, and stealth technology. Inspired by the success of DARPA, in 2002 the 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 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. [12]

The Suzanne Wright Foundation proposed "HARPA" in 2017 to focus on pancreatic cancer and other challenging diseases. [13] A white paper was published by former Obama White House staffers, Michael Stebbins and Geoffrey Ling through the Day One Project that 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. [14] In June 2021 noted biologists Francis S. Collins (then head of the NIH), Tara Schwetz, Lawrence Tabak, and Eric Lander penned an article in Science supporting the idea. [15] Dr. Collins became an important champion of the idea on Capitol Hill and the legislation garnered numerous sponsors in the 117th Congress.

In September 2022, Renee Wegrzyn was appointed as the agency's inaugural director. [16] [17] [18]

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. [19] 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. [20] [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DARPA</span> Technology research and development agency of the U.S. Department of Defense

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. Originally known as the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), the agency was created on February 7, 1958, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in response to the Soviet launching of Sputnik 1 in 1957. By collaborating with academia, industry, and government partners, DARPA formulates and executes research and development projects to expand the frontiers of technology and science, often beyond immediate U.S. military requirements. The name of the organization first changed from its founding name, ARPA, to DARPA, in March 1972, changing back to ARPA in February 1993, then reverted to DARPA in March 1996.

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Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) is a part of the Science and Technology Directorate at the United States Department of Homeland Security. Much like DARPA in the Department of Defense, HSARPA is tasked with advanced projects to advance the technology needed to protect the US. Some of the chief beneficiaries of HSARPA are the Customs and Border Protection, and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Science and Technology Council</span> The NSTC establishes national goals for science and technology.

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is a council in the Executive Branch of the United States. It is designed to coordinate science and technology policy across the branches of federal government.

ARPA-E, or Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy is a United States government agency tasked with promoting and funding research and development of advanced energy technologies. It is modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffrey Ling</span>

Geoffrey S. F. Ling is a medical doctor who retired from the United States Army as a colonel and was the CEO of On Demand Pharmaceuticals. He served as the founding director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technologies Office from 2014 until 2016. He was considered to be the "US Army's premier subject matter expert on traumatic brain injury (TBI)", and was for years the only neuro-intensive care specialist in the US military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence A. Tabak</span> American dentist and scientist (born 1951)

Lawrence A. Tabak is an American dentist and biomedical scientist serving as the principal deputy director of the National Institutes of Health. He served as acting director from 2021 to 2023. Previously he was the director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research from 2000 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tara A. Schwetz</span> American biophysicist and government official

Tara A. Schwetz is an American biophysicist and government administrator who serves as a deputy director of the National Institutes of Health. She previously served as Acting Principal Deputy Director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022</span> Spending legislation in the United States

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 is a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by the 117th United States Congress on March 14, 2022 and signed into law by President Joe Biden the following day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renee Wegrzyn</span> American applied biologist (born 1976)

Renee Diane Wegrzyn is an American applied biologist who has served as the inaugural director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health since October 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam H. Russell</span> American anthropologist

Adam H. Russell is an American anthropologist who serves as Chief Vision Officer of the U.S. AI Safety Institute. He previously served as the acting deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023</span> US omnibus spending bill

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 is a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill funding the U.S. federal government for the 2023 fiscal year. It includes funding for a range of domestic and foreign policy priorities, including support for Ukraine, defense spending, and aid for regions affected by natural disasters. It also includes provisions related to advanced transportation research, health care, electoral reform, and restrictions on the use of the social media app TikTok.

Over the years, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has conducted a number of prize competitions to spur innovations. A prize competition allows DARPA to establish an ambitious goal, which makes public way for novel approaches from the public that might otherwise appear too risky to undertake by experts in a particular discipline.

References

  1. ↑ "Russell Named Acting Deputy Director for New Advanced Research Entity". NIH Record . 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  2. ↑ "ARPA-H Mission". National Institutes of Health (NIH). 29 June 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Jeffries, Hakeem S. (15 March 2022). "H.R.2471 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 27 April 2022. Division H, Title II. Page 136 STAT. 465 contains relevant passage.
  4. ↑ Mesa, Natalie (1 April 2022). "ARPA-H to Be Within NIH but Independently Managed by HHS". The Scientist Magazine. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  5. ↑ Kozlov, Max (13 September 2022). "Billion-dollar US health agency gets new chief — but its direction remains in limbo". Nature . Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  6. ↑ Tausche, Kayla (August 13, 2024). "With 'Cancer Moonshot' announcement, Biden turns to causes most important to him in final months in office". CNN. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  7. ↑ Kavya Sekar; Marcy E. Gallo (May 23, 2023). Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H): Overview and Selected Issues (Report 47568) (PDF) (Report). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  8. ↑ Pub. L.   117–328 (text) (PDF), Division FF, Title II (page 420 of engrossed bill)
  9. ↑ Weisman, Robert; Chesto, Jon (September 26, 2023). "Cambridge picked as a national hub for new federal health research agency". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ Chesto, Jon (May 16, 2022). "The feds are choosing a headquarters for a federal health research center. Why not pick Boston?". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  11. ↑ Pandey, Maia (2023-09-26). "Dallas selected as one of three national hubs for new medical innovation federal agency". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  12. ↑ Tollefson, Jeff (22 July 2021). "The rise of 'ARPA-everything' and what it means for science". Nature. 595 (7868): 483–484. Bibcode:2021Natur.595..483T. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-01878-z. PMID   34244687. S2CID   235787224 . Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "HARPA: Health Advanced Research Projects Agency". The Suzanne Wright Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  14. ↑ Stebbins, Michael; Ling, Geoffrey (19 April 2020). "Creating the Health Advanced Research Projects Agency (HARPA)". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  15. ↑ Collins, Francis S.; Schwetz, Tara A.; Tabak, Lawrence A.; Lander, Eric S. (9 July 2021). "ARPA-H: Accelerating biomedical breakthroughs". Science. 373 (6551): 165–167. Bibcode:2021Sci...373..165C. doi:10.1126/science.abj8547. PMID   34244402. S2CID   235769725.
  16. ↑ "President Biden Announces Intent to Appoint Dr. Renee Wegrzyn as Inaugural Director of Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)". The White House. 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  17. ↑ "DARPA Forward | Dr. Renee Wegrzyn". forward.darpa.mil. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  18. ↑ "Biden's new biomedical innovation agency gets its first director". www.science.org. 2022-09-12. doi:10.1126/science.ade8505 . Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  19. ↑ "ARPA-H Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). The White House. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "UC San Diego Awarded $9.5 Million to Enhance Cybersecurity in Health Care". today.ucsd.edu. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  21. ↑ "DIGIHEALS Awardees | ARPA-H". arpa-h.gov. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
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