The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is dedicated to driving transformative and equitable health solutions through high-impact research. Modeled after DARPA, ARPA-H funds high-risk, high-reward projects that aim to tackle some of the most challenging health issues of our time. Here are the top considerations to keep in mind when working with ARPA-H to ensure your proposals and projects align with their innovative and accelerated approach.

1. Understand ARPA-H's mission: Modeled after DARPA, ARPA-H funds high-risk, high-reward projects with significant potential impact on health.
2. Expect short timelines: ARPA-H operates on accelerated timelines, with proposals often due within 3-4 weeks of the call announcement.
3. Focus your proposal: ARPA-H funding opportunities are typically highly focused. Tailor your proposal to closely align with the specific call.
4. Highlight your "secret weapon": Successful proposals often feature an innovative approach or technology that makes a seemingly impossible goal achievable.
5. Build a strong team: ARPA-H encourages teaming and may even force teaming post-award, so identify collaborators strategically.
6. Prepare for milestone-based funding: ARPA-H funds projects in stages, with payment contingent upon delivering specific milestones. Structure your budget accordingly.
7. Anticipate contracting challenges: The contracting process can be slow and complex, especially when subcontracts are involved. Build extra time into your planning.
8. Avoid spreading deliverables across subcontractors: It's risky to have an important deliverable rely on multiple subcontracted entities.
9. Leverage AI tools strategically*: AI can assist with RFA analysis, proposal checklists and critiques as well as drafting appendices. Be selective about which tools you use to safeguard confidentiality and privacy.
10. Commit to the deliverables: ARPA-H has high expectations for funded projects to deliver what was promised. Ensure you can realistically achieve the proposed outcomes.
11. (Bonus item) Engage your Sponsored Programs Officer as quickly as possible to discuss your plans to respond to an ARPA-H opportunity. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact your OSP Officer.

Learn more about ARPA-H Programs and Funding Opportunities. In addition, ARPA-H hosts weekly Office Hours, informal conversations that allow open dialogue with the Customer Experience Hub. Office hours are held most Wednesdays from 2-3pm CT via Zoom. Please visit the CX Hub Newsroom Page to sign up for office hours. If you have other questions, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., UAB’s CX Hub Co-POC.

*This top-10 list was generated by AI using slides from a presentation by Dr. Matt Might. Click here to view the full presentation slides.