ARPA-H launches AI initiatives for protein research and clinical trials

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has launched two major initiatives aimed at utilizing artificial intelligence to transform medical research and clinical development.

A consortium known as SEEDS, co-led by Georgetown University and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, has been awarded up to $51.7 million. This four-year project focuses on studying misfolded proteins linked to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. The team aims to use AI to predict protein behavior and develop diagnostics and treatments for proteins previously considered ‘undruggable’ due to their lack of stable shapes.

Separately, ARPA-H has introduced the SURPASS program, designed to redesign clinical trials through a continuous, AI-supported platform. The program seeks to replace traditional, separate study phases with adaptive trials using digital twins and real-time data analysis. The goal is to significantly reduce the time required for clinical development from over a decade to less than four years, while also lowering costs and reducing duplication in trial operations.