Sprinting toward solutions for women’s health 

The ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health is a funding opportunity to address critical unmet challenges in women’s health, championing transformative innovations and tackling health conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women. ARPA-H is committing $100 million to this effort and is using two funding tracks, spark (early-stage research) and launchpad (later-stage development), to foster transformative research and development efforts. 

ARPA-H had an unprecedented response of submissions, representing 45 states, the District of Columbia, and 34 countries, received from a mix of scientific visionaries from across the globe and sectors. More than half of those submissions came from organizations with less than 50 people. Proposals covered the six topics, including the wild card, and innovative ideas ranged from novel, groundbreaking research to opportunities to accelerate and scale tools, products, and platforms with potential for commercialization. 

“This tremendous interest reaffirms the need to significantly improve women’s health care in this country and around the world,” said ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn, Ph.D. “The ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health is catalyzing a nationwide and global health ecosystem to radically accelerate the next generation of discoveries and create a portfolio of investments in multifaceted and non-traditional women’s health research approaches.” 

All submissions will be reviewed by ARPA-H Program Managers and additional subject-matter experts. Submissions moving to the next phase will be invited to pitch their idea this summer, with awards announced later in the year. Multiple awards are anticipated, and exact amounts depend on meeting aggressive milestones, typical of the ARPA-H model.  

“We are energized by these ideas, not only for women now but what they could mean for future generations,” said Jenica Patterson, Ph.D., Sprint for Women’s Health lead and Division Director, Project Accelerator Transition Innovation Office. “Personally, for my daughter, mom, sister, nieces, and as a woman myself, I know that we must fundamentally change the trajectory of women’s health. It’s vital to ensure that we are addressing the gaps where ARPA-H investment can have the greatest impact.” 

This effort will advance the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research and help spur the type of innovation and private sector engagement long needed to improve women’s health. The ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health is conducted in collaboration with the Investor Catalyst Hub of ARPANET-H, the agency’s nationwide health innovation network that connects people, innovators, and institutions to accelerate better health outcomes for everyone. 

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

To stay updated with the latest ARPA-H news, subscribe to ARPA-H Vitals.