Dr. Michael Patterson joined ARPA-H as a Program Manager in June 2026. He brings more than 18 years of experience in infectious disease, public health, and biological defense including 12 years as a project and program manager. Before coming to ARPA-H, Patterson served as a program manager at the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) beginning in 2021 and as a technical contractor from 2017 to 2021. His programs at IARPA focused on leveraging advanced biotechnologies and multiomics to establish novel capabilities while also countering the potential risks aligned with national security interests.
Prior to his time at IARPA, Patterson supported the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) working on international research engagement in Europe and the Middle East. Patterson graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 2014 with a Ph.D. in experimental biology and Master of Public Health in epidemiology working to characterize and attenuate viruses in high-containment environments.