Iowa State Selected as Member of ARPA-H Catalyst Hub Spoke Network

January 11, 2024 – Ames, Iowa – Iowa State University of Science and Technology has been selected as a spoke for the Investor Catalyst Hub, a regional hub of ARPANET-H, a nationwide health innovation network launched by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).

Based in the Greater Boston area and managed by VentureWell, the Investor Catalyst Hub seeks to accelerate the commercialization of groundbreaking and accessible biomedical solutions. It utilizes an innovative hub-and-spoke model designed to reach a wide range of nonprofit organizations and Minority-Serving Institutions, with the ultimate aim of delivering scalable healthcare outcomes for all Americans.

“We’re delighted that ARPANET-H has added Iowa State University as a spoke for the Investor Catalyst Hub,” said Vice President for Research Peter Dorhout. “Among academic members, Iowa State is one of the few university spokes that does not have a medical school. Our selection is a recognition of the innovative and transformative health-related work that is taking place not only here, but at other land-grant research institutions. This includes the OneHealth-focused research of the National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education (NIAMRRE) and the breakthrough science and technology of the Nanovaccine Institute.”

“Another key factor contributing to Iowa State’s selection is Iowa State’s work in leading the Vaccines, Diagnostics and Immunotherapeutics Bioscience Platform,” Dorhout added. “Through the support of the Iowa Legislature, and the partnership of BioConnect Iowa, this important public-private partnership has established an innovation ecosystem that is helping grow Iowa’s economy and yielding transformative technologies that can accelerate better health outcomes for not only our state, but society as a whole.”

Iowa State joins a dynamic nationwide network of organizations aligned to ARPA-H’s overarching mission to improve health outcomes through the following research focus areas: health science futures, proactive health, scalable solutions, and resilient systems. Investor Catalyst Hub spokes represent a broad spectrum of expertise, geographic diversity, and community perspectives.

“Our spoke network embodies a rich and representative range of perspectives and expertise,” said Mark Marino, Vice President of Growth Strategy and Development for VentureWell and Project Director for the Investor Catalyst Hub. “Our spokes comprise a richly diverse network that will be instrumental in ensuring that equitable health solutions reach communities across every state and tribal nation.”

As an Investor Catalyst Hub spoke, Iowa State gains access to potential funding and flexible contracting for faster award execution compared to traditional government contracts. Spoke membership also offers opportunities to provide input on ARPA-H challenge areas and priorities, along with access to valuable networking opportunities and a robust resource library.

Michael Roof, chief technology officer (CTO) for the Vaccines, Diagnostics and Immunotherapeutics biosciences platform, will serve as the key point of contact and liaison for Iowa State with the Investor Catalyst Hub. The Investor Catalyst Hub indicates the network that has been established will continue to expand with applicants selected on a rolling basis.

Original article here.