Sprint for Women’s Health

Program Description

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Sprint for Women’s Health aims to address critical unmet challenges in women’s health across all demographics, geographies, and socioeconomic statuses, championing transformative innovations and tackling health conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women from every walk of life.

Submissions are closed for the ARPA-H request for solutions (RFS) funding opportunity. Two funding tracks foster transformative research and development efforts that impact and improve women’s health outcomes: one for early-stage research, or “Spark” solutions, and the other for later-stage development, or “Launchpad” solutions.

Key Dates*

  • Draft Request for Solutions (RFS) posted: Monday, March 4, 2024
  • Virtual Proposers’ Day: Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Watch the event recording and access the event slides.
  • Submissions opened: Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET
  • Submission deadline: Monday, April 15, 2024, 12:00 p.m. ET (CLOSED)
  • Pitch phase: Summer 2024
  • Invitation for Collaboration & Negotiation (IC&N): Summer/Fall 2024
  • Award: Fall 2024

*Dates are notional and dependent on the number of submissions received.

Program Description

Submissions are closed for the ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health request for solutions (RFS) funding opportunity. With the two funding opportunity tracks, ARPA-H is lowering barriers of entry for a diverse range of participants, with a simplified submission process of a Solution Summary followed by a pitch session. A Solution Summary is a three-page document that addresses how the proposed idea is relevant to ARPA-H mission and the proposed women’s health topic areas. The Spark and Launchpad tracks are available for all six women’s health topics.

For the funding opportunity tracks, the expected period of performance is 24 months. The selected performers will work directly with an ARPA-H Program Manager (PM). They will receive an ARPA-H award contracted through the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub.

What Is Spark?

Spark awards focus on transformative early-stage research efforts aligned with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 1-4 in the specific topics of interest in women’s health. Selected performers will receive an ARPA-H award of approximately $3M.

What Is Launchpad?

Launchpad awards accelerate later-stage transformative health solutions reaching the public. The Launchpad performers are at higher TRLs (5+) in the specific topics of interest in women’s health where they still require technical development but are poised to impact health outcomes in the short term. The Launchpad program and funding opportunity help lower the barriers to successful commercial transition. Launchpad performers will work to mature and grow their businesses through structured education, public and private resources, and domain-specific mentorship resources. The Launchpad performers will receive an ARPA-H award of approximately $10M and will also work with a contracted Expert-in-Residence (XIR) or Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) with commercialization and technology transition experience, in addition to the PM.

Note: The connection between ARPA-H and an XIR or EIR is established through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA), where XIRs and EIRs serve as consultants under the intermediary’s agreement with ARPA-H.

Women’s Health Topics

The RFS invited Solution Summary submissions on the following six topics of interest in women’s health for either the Spark or Launchpad track.

  • Women’s Health Topic 01: Women’s Health at Home
  • Women’s Health Topic 02: Prioritizing Ovarian Health Through Mid-Life To Prevent Disease
  • Women’s Health Topic 03: ARTEMIS—Advancing Research Through Enhanced Models for Investigating the Influence of Sex Differences on Health Outcomes
  • Women’s Health Topic 04: Advancing Women’s Brain Health Via Lymphatic Targeting
  • Women’s Health Topic 05: Objective and Quantitative Measurement of Chronic Pain in Women
  • Women’s Health Topic 06: Wild Card: Revolutionary Breakthroughs in Women’s Health
Women’s Health Topic Descriptions

 

While the Sprint for Women’s Health submissions are closed, please visit the ARPA-H  Programs page,  Mission Office-Specific Innovative Solutions Openings, and Small Business Innovation Research solicitation for additional research opportunities. ARPA-H is also accepting Program Manager applications.

Multiple awards under this RFS are anticipated. Resources available will depend on the quality of the submissions received and the availability of funds. Exact award amounts depend on meeting aggressive milestones, typical to the ARPA-H model. ARPA-H is under no obligation to respond to every submission, proceed with any Solution Summaries/Pitch, or select any specific number of Solution Summaries/Pitch in each topic. A response to this RFS or invitation to pitch will not be viewed as a binding commitment to develop or pursue the project or ideas discussed.

Key Documents

Request for Solutions (Amended April 10)
RFS FAQ: Sprint for Women’s Health 
Full Description of Topics (Included in RFS)
Evaluation Method and Criteria (Included in RFS – Amended April 1)
Submission Instructions (Included in RFS – Amended April 1)
ARPA-H Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)
Human Subjects and Animal Subjects Research
Solution Summary Submission Template (PDF – Amended April 1)
Solution Summary Submission Template (.docx – Amended April 1)
BIDS Platform Guide
FAQ: Pitch Notifications