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.
The ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health’s new request for solutions (RFS) funding opportunity will use two funding tracks to foster transformative research and development efforts: one for early-stage research, or “Spark” solutions, and the other for later-stage development, or “Launchpad” solutions.
Key Dates*
- Virtual Proposers’ Day: Wednesday, March 6, 2024. ARPA-H provided an overview of the Sprint for Women’s Health RFS, the application process, and details of the six women’s health topics. Watch the event recording and access the event slides.
- Submissions open: Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 9:00 a.m. ET
- Question deadline: Questions must be submitted by March 27, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET. Submit questions here.
- Submission deadline: Friday, April 12, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET
- Pitch phase: May-July 2024
- Invitation for Collaboration & Negotiation (IC&N): July-August 2024
- Award: September 2024
*Dates are notional and dependent on the number of submissions received.
Solution Summary Submission
A 3-page Solution Summary, using minimum 11-point font and minimum 0.5” margins on all sides, should be submitted in a PDF format to ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health Website, listed on the RFS cover page. Attachments and embedded links shall not be included. The Solution Summary should address why the proposed idea is relevant to the ARPA-H mission and the proposed topic areas in women’s health. This Solution Summary should demonstrate the technical merit, user experience, commercial viability, and team qualifications for this proposed idea.
Note - references are included in 3 page limit, though the ROM is fortunately not.
Solution Summary Submission Template
Investor Catalyst Hub BIDS Guide
Sprint for Women's Health FAQs
Program Description
With the two funding opportunity tracks, ARPA-H aims to lower 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 will be 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 ARPANET-H Investor Catalyst Hub.
What Is Spark?
Spark awards will 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 aim to accelerate later-stage transformative health solutions reaching the public. The Launchpad performers will be 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 will 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 invites Solution Summary submissions on the following six topics of interest in women’s health for either the Spark or Launchpad track. Please note that submissions outside of topics listed below will not be considered at this time.
- 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
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.
If you have questions about the ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health, use this form by March 27, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET.
Teaming Profiles
ARPA-H anticipates that teaming will be necessary to achieve the goals of the program. Prospective performers are encouraged (but not required) to form teams with varied technical expertise to submit a Solution Summary to the Sprint. To facilitate this process, we have created a teaming page where prospective performers can share their profiles and learn more about other interested parties.
Key Documents
Draft RFS
Full Description of Topics (Included in Draft RFS)
Evaluation Method and Criteria (Included in Draft RFS)
Submission Instructions (Included in Draft RFS)
ARPA-H Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)
Human Subjects and Animal Subjects Research