Are you a focused ultrasound company seeking non-dilutive grant funding? Check out ARPA-H.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is hosting a virtual Doing Business with ARPA-H Industry Day on Wednesday, November 13, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Eastern to provide tips, tricks, and lessons learned about how to successfully locate and apply for ARPA-H funding.
The event will include main event topics that focus on the agency’s role and how companies can access funding. Additional breakout sessions offer an opportunity for attendees to ask ARPA-H personnel questions about its processes, teaming opportunities, international collaboration, and more.
The deadline to register for the free virtual event is November 8. Register Now
Your Questions Answered
ARPA-H was established only a couple of years ago, in May 2022, but its impact on healthcare research and industry has already been notable. We encourage the entire focused ultrasound community to explore how their projects and companies could benefit from ARPA-H funding. Read on for answers to frequently asked questions that the FUS Partners team has fielded from the community.
What is ARPA-H?
ARPA-H is an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It funds research for technologies that have “the potential to transform important areas of medicine and health that cannot readily be accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity.” ARPA-H’s non-dilutive funding could help companies develop focused ultrasound products. At least one focused ultrasound company has received ARPA-H funding– SecondWave, which is developing a wearable low-intensity focused ultrasound device to treat anti-inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
What projects does ARPA-H fund?
A list of ARPA-H project awardees can be found here. There are two tracks to access ARPA-H funding:
- A program-specific Innovative Solution Opening (ISO) solicits project ideas for a specific ARPA-H program. For a list of the current program-specific ISOs and links to past Proposers’ Day presentations, click here. New programs are announced frequently, so if you do not find a program that is a good fit, check back often.
- A mission office ISO is for applications that fall within a mission office area of research but may not be addressed by a specific ARPA-H program. Click here for a list of areas of interest.
How do you apply to ARPA-H?
The first step is to submit a 3-page abstract or solution summary. A suggested template for an ARPA-H abstract can be downloaded here.
It can take up to six weeks for ARPA-H to review the abstract. If an abstract is deemed of interest, researchers will be invited to a call with the agency, after which the proposer may be invited to submit a full proposal, which should be submitted 30 – 45 days after the invitation.
Some useful templates and application instructions are provided here. Certain ISOs may have their own form requirements, so please read the solicitation carefully.
How does the ARPA-H program compare to NIH SBIR/STTR grants?
The ARPA-H process is designed to be faster than some of the other federal grant programs, such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant, and it does not require extensive data.
Are small businesses eligible to apply?
Yes.
What about small businesses that are not US-based?
Small businesses located outside the US are also eligible to apply. ARPA-H prioritizes awards to companies that will conduct funded work in the US.
Is a collaboration with a university required?
No. The application can include just one company or can include a team of entities that may or may not include universities.
What is the funding limit for ARPA-H awards?
There is no funding limit. Budgets must be realistic, justifiable, comprehensive, and reasonable to accomplish the milestones for the project. ARPA-H projects that have been funded in the past range from $1 million to $109 million, with an average of $26 million.
Did you know that the Foundation is a spoke in the ARPANET Customer Service Hub?
The Foundation is proud to be one of the 400 institutions that participate in this nationwide health innovation network that connects people, innovators, and institutions to target the prevention and treatment of diseases, and the diagnosis of patients, by diversifying clinical trials, reaching representative patient populations, and instilling patient-centric approaches to improve health outcomes for all Americans. Read more here.
Would you like to be part of the ARPANET network?
Investor Catalyst Hub is seeking new members. Your company would have the chance to network with the 580 for-profit businesses of all sizes, investors, hospitals, universities, government, and non-profit organizations that are part of that growing hub. INIA Biosciences, another focused ultrasound company developing a wearable device to treat inflammatory diseases, is a member of the Investor Catalyst Hub. Membership in this hub may be a requirement for some ARPA-H solicitations, such as the recent solicitation for women’s health.
Do you need connections to a grant writer or consultant to assist in preparing your ARPA-H application? Although the Foundation cannot help you write your grant, FUS Partners can connect you to third-party experts who you can contract with directly on fee-for-service basis to assist with preparing ARPA-H or other grant applications. Contact us at fuspartners@fusfoundation.org.
Read More about the Virtual Doing Business with ARPA-H Industry Day and Register
Cindy Clark works with the FUS Partners team as Commercial Initiatives and Strategy Director. She is a serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of successful commercialization experience in the life science industry.