Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) funds high-risk, high-reward research to drive biomedical and health breakthroughs — from the molecular to the societal — that cannot readily be accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity. Unlike NIH, ARPA-H does not rely on peer review to score proposals. Instead, term-limited Program Managers drive the creation of programs, funding performers through milestone-based Other Transaction agreements rather than traditional grants. Faculty whose work sits at the intersection of disciplines and has a clear path to large-scale health impact are well-positioned to pursue ARPA-H opportunities.

A note on Other Transactions: ARPA-H primarily funds work through Other Transaction (OT) agreements and Cooperative Agreements — not grants. These are performance-based contracts where funding is contingent on meeting aggressive, pre-negotiated milestones. If you are considering an ARPA-H opportunity, please notify our office and contact OSP as early as possible, as the negotiation process differs significantly from standard grant submissions.

Learn About ARPA-H

• About ARPA-H — Overview of ARPA-H's mission, research model, and how it differs from traditional federal funding agencies.
• What We Fund — ARPA-H's disease-agnostic focus areas, organized by Mission Office.
• ARPA-H Programs Portfolio — Browse current and past ARPA-H programs and the health challenges they address.
• ARPA-H 101: Why Other Transactions? — An accessible explainer from ARPA-H on how OT agreements work and why the agency uses them instead of traditional grants.
• Other Transaction Community — Resources for understanding and navigating ARPA-H's OT contracting model.

Pitt Research Development Resources

Content developed by the Pitt Research Development team to help faculty prepare for ARPA-H opportunities.

• Meet the Decision Makers: ARPA-H (Pitt login required) — Yoram Vodovotz, Ph.D., Program Manager, ARPA-H. September 16, 2026.

Find and Pursue Funding

• Open Funding Opportunities — Browse all currently open Programs, Initiatives, Mission Office ISOs, and small business opportunities.
• Navigating the Application Process — ARPA-H's step-by-step guide to the full application process, from finding an opportunity through award.
• Mission Office ISOs: Know Before Applying — Important guidance for those considering a rolling Mission Office ISO submission.
• Submission FAQs — Answers to common questions about solicitations, submissions, and the application process.
• General Programs FAQs — Answers to common questions about ARPA-H programs and funding mechanisms.
• Award Directory — Search past ARPA-H awards by keyword, award type, managing office, or year.
• For Small Businesses (SBIR/STTR) — Small business funding opportunities and resources through ARPA-H's SBIR and STTR programs.
• Research Security Review — Understanding ARPA-H's security review process for key personnel on funded proposals.

Strategic Intelligence: What You Need to Know Before Applying

ARPA-H operates very differently from NIH, NSF, or foundation funders. Key things to understand before pursuing an opportunity:

• It is not a grant. ARPA-H funds work through Other Transaction agreements — performance-based contracts with milestone-gated payments. Missing a milestone can result in funding being cut.
• Read the ISO carefully — and do what it says. Each Innovative Solution Opening (ISO) is the brainchild of a single Program Manager. The solicitation is specific by design. Proposals that don't directly respond to the ISO are the most common reason for rejection.
• Teaming is almost always expected. ARPA-H programs are designed to occupy "white space" — problems that sit at the intersection of disciplines where no single lab or company has all the answers. If your proposal can be executed entirely within your own lab, you are likely misreading the solicitation.
• Submit a Solution Summary first. Before investing significant time in a full proposal, submit a Solution Summary (a 5-8 page concept document). ARPA-H will respond with "encourage" or "discourage" feedback. If discouraged, take the feedback seriously — proposals that proceed despite discouragement rarely succeed.
• Use the ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions. ARPA-H uses a modified version of the Heilmeier Catechism to evaluate proposals. Use these questions to frame your idea before writing anything. If you can't answer them clearly, the concept may not yet be ready.
• Research security matters. All key personnel on ARPA-H proposals undergo a research security review. Significant affiliations with institutions in countries of concern — including active collaborations, lab activities, or funding — can jeopardize an otherwise strong proposal. Address this proactively.
• Commercialization is not optional. ARPA-H programs are designed with a path to large-scale adoption in mind. If your proposed work does not have a credible route to commercialization or broad deployment within roughly five years, it is unlikely to be funded.

The ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions

ARPA-H uses a modified version of the Heilmeier Catechism (developed by former DARPA Director George Heilmeier) as the framework for evaluating proposals. Use these to assess and frame your idea before developing a Solution Summary or full proposal:

1. What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using no jargon.
2. How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
3. What is new in your approach, and why do you think it will be successful?
4. Who cares? If you are successful, what difference will it make?
5. What are the risks, and how do you plan to manage them?
6. How much will it cost, and how long will it take?
7. What are the mid-term and final outcomes that will mark success?
8. How will equitable access for all people be ensured — addressing cost, accessibility, and user experience?
9. How might this program be misperceived or misused, and how can that be prevented?

• Heilmeier Catechism — DARPA — The original Heilmeier questions, as used at DARPA.
• The Heilmeier Catechism — ARI Module — A free self-paced module on applying the Heilmeier framework to proposals.

Initiatives, Sprints & Small Business Opportunities

• Initiatives & Sprints — Targeted, rapid-cycle funding efforts designed to move quickly from proposal to contract across a range of topics.
• For Small Businesses — SBIR and STTR opportunities for small businesses pursuing ARPA-H funding.

Interested in Becoming an ARPA-H Program Manager?

• Program Manager Application — If you have bold, ambitious ideas and want to drive programs at the agency level, ARPA-H recruits term-limited Program Managers from academia and industry.

Stay Connected

• ARPA-H Vitals Newsletter — Weekly updates on new funding opportunities, research, and program developments from ARPA-H.
• ARPA-H on X/Twitter — News, program announcements, and Proposers' Day notices.
• ARPA-H on YouTube — Recorded Proposers' Days, program overviews, and agency explainers.
• ARPA-H Events — Upcoming Proposers' Days and other agency events.