Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

Summary

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is a U.S. government agency created in 2022 and operates within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ARPA-H aims to fund innovative research and breakthrough technologies to address critical health challenges. Its funding goals focus on accelerating the development of high-impact solutions, such as advanced treatments, diagnostic tools, and preventive measures for diseases across various areas, including cancer, chronic diseases, and emerging health threats. Modeled after DARPA and drawing on and contributing to NIH’s vast knowledge, expertise, and infrastructure, ARPA-H remains a distinct and independent funding agency with its own culture, policies, and processes. 

Cooperative Agreements and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Agreements are the two primary funding mechanisms used by ARPA-H. ARPA-H may leverage other mechanisms under unique circumstances.  

Letter of Intent/Innovative Solutions Openings

 

OSR Proposals and Grants staff (OSR Staff) are prepared to assist Investigators with ARPA-H Letters of Intent (LOIs) also known as Innovative Solutions Openings (ISO), Solution Summaries, or other “pre-proposal” submissions. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to work with their OSR Staff on ARPA-H pre-proposal activities.

1.  Initiate LOI/ISO – identify funding opportunity and discuss the following with your OSR Staff:

  • Timeline, required components, and roles and responsibilities
  • Submission details, e.g., is ARPA-H Solutions (https://solutions.arpa-h.gov/) used or another submission system. Create a login if submitting the LOI/ISO.
  • Confirm with OSR Staff that you or your delegate will submit the LOI/ISO.

2.  If the Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM or budget) is required, please complete the green fields of the Budget Summary Tool  and return it to OSR Staff per the agreed timeline. OSR staff will complete the summary to arrive at the final figure for confirmation.

3.  OSR Staff will:

  • Review funding announcement for Research Security requirements and contact appropriate central unit (e.g. UCSF Research Cybersecurity Program, Export Control) to confirm the university can comply and any additional costs that need to be added to the budget. The PI will be copied on these communications.
  • Ensure that there is no requirement of institutional certification, e.g., institution is not committing to any terms and conditions through submission of the LOI/ISO. If there is such a requirement, an OSR Officer will review and approve the LOI/ISO before it can be submitted.
  • Complete the following elements of the LOI/ISO Cover Page:
    • Prime Awardee Information
    • UCSF legal entity name: The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco
    • Type of Organization: OTHER EDUCATIONAL
    • Total dollar amount of the LOI/ISO or ROM from the confirmed Budget Summary Tool
  • Collect the following cover page information from the PI
    • Project Title
    • If UCSF is prime awardee, project personnel and institutional affiliation, collaborators

7.  PI will compile the final components of the LOI/ISO following the format described in the funding opportunity and submit the LOI/ISO to the sponsor copying their OSR Staff and the Research Development Office (RDO) at [email protected].

The RDO is available to assist with the preparation of other sections, e.g., Concept Summary, Innovation & Impact, and Proposed Work – see funding opportunity for specific section(s) and maximum page limits.

 

Full Application

Initiate the proposal preparation process: Please contact your OSR Staff upon receipt of requests for the full application and copy them on any additional information received from the sponsor.