The Biden administration’s pioneering biomedical research agency has embarked on a substantial $24.8 million endeavor aimed at harnessing mRNA platforms for combatting cancer and other life-threatening diseases. This ambitious initiative is undertaken by the Advanced Research Project Agency for Health (ARPA-H), a newly established entity, in partnership with Emory University situated in Atlanta. The project, titled “CUREIT” (Curing the Uncurable via RNA-Encoded Immunogene Tuning), is set to span three years and forms an integral part of the administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative, designed to significantly reduce the cancer mortality rate over a quarter-century.
CUREIT, championed by ARPA-H, is poised to make substantial strides in fulfilling its mission, aligning closely with the objectives of the Biden Cancer Moonshot and the President’s Unity Agenda. With a strategic focus on building a comprehensive “toolbox” of mRNA and related technologies, the project seeks to trigger immune responses, prompting cells to target tumors. The versatile applications of these technologies extend beyond cancer, encompassing autoimmune disorders, transplants, and infectious diseases.
This significant milestone marks the inaugural award granted by ARPA-H from its Open Broad Agency Announcement, which began soliciting proposals the previous year. The agency will continue to accept applications through March, ensuring a rolling allocation of funding.
ARPA-H’s proactive approach has manifested through various initiatives in recent months. Notably, the Precision Surgical Interventions Program, launched in July, endeavors to develop novel technologies empowering surgeons with heightened precision and accuracy in removing cancerous tumors. Furthermore, a program aimed at identifying novel methodologies for the human body to autonomously repair its joints has been initiated.
As part of its overarching structure, ARPA-H has unveiled plans for a “hub-and-spoke” model, designed to establish anchors in three distinct regions across the nation. Emory University’s home state of Georgia is among the contenders vying to be selected as a hub within this dynamic model, underpinning the agency’s nationwide footprint and influence.
