The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), is a new federal scientific research agency created by the Biden Administration to “support the development of high-impact research to drive biomedical and health breakthroughs to deliver transformative, sustainable, and equitable health solutions for everyone. ARPA-H’s mission focuses on leveraging research advances for real world impact.” With a current budget of over $2 billion, ARPA-H has the potential to support competitive research proposals from the population research community. Program managers will play a very important role in determining priorities and making award decisions.
If you have a bold, ambitious idea and feel you would be a good fit for ARPA-H, please complete the form and submit your cover letter, CV, and idea or concept that addresses the ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions below.
ARPA-H will support concepts brought to life directly from Program Managers that have not only identified a key problem in health today, but are also passionate about a vision to bring forward revolutionary solutions to solve the problem, and do so in an equitable way. ARPA-H embraces a culture of open innovation and empowers its program managers to fearlessly pursue health breakthroughs that cannot readily be accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity.
Program managers at ARPA-H will serve a term-limited appointment of three years, and no more than six years total, to ensure a constant rotation of new ideas and diverse perspectives.
Application Process
Submit your cover letter, CV, and program concepts (3-page summary of each program idea, answering the ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions). We’ll reach back out if we think proceeding to Step 2 is a good fit.
An ARPA-H technical lead will reach out to schedule a meeting to learn more about your ideas and answer your questions about the process and life as a Program Manager. Well-defined problems and clear expertise to move them toward solutions will help you progress to Step 3.
You will work with your ARPA-H contact to build a more fully fleshed out program idea and a program “pitch” deck that will be the basis of your introductory talk to your potential future ARPA-H colleagues. When ready, will invite you in to give that talk.
You will present your program idea(s) to your potential future colleagues, including ARPA-H leadership. If selected to join the ARPA-H team, we’ll empower you to take on that bold, ambitious idea to change the world by creating new health futures for everyone.
ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions
*Answers required as part of your program concept submission
Based on a set of questions developed by former DARPA Director, George H. Heilmeier (1975-1977), known as the “Heilmeier Catechism,” the ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions provide potential ARPA-H PMs high-level guidance for what information should be included in their proposals, as well as allow PMs to communicate to ARPA-H leadership what they hope to accomplish with the program.
- What are you trying to do? What health problem are you trying to solve? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
- How is it done today? What are the limitations of present approaches?
- What is new about your approach? Why do you think you can be successful at this time?
- Who cares? If you succeed, what difference will it make?
- What are the risks? Identify any risks that may prevent you from reaching your objectives, as well as any risks the program itself may present.
- How long will it take?
- How much will it cost?
- What are your mid-term and final exams to check for success?
- To ensure equitable access for all people, how will cost, accessibility, and user experience be addressed?
- How might this program be misperceived or misused (and how can we prevent that from happening)?
We know you are here for a short time to solve important problems, and are committed to help you “level up” professionally while you are here too.
See more and the application here.
More information: What is a Program Manager?
ARPA-H Mission Deck (PDF)