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Dallas will be one of three national hubs for a new federal agency pursuing “game-changing breakthroughs” in science and medicine, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday.
ARPA-H, also known as the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, is an initiative led by the Biden administration aimed at combating diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. In addition to its existing hubs in Cambridge, Mass. and the Washington, D.C. area, ARPA-H will establish a comprehensive network of “spokes” or local health institutions across all 50 states. This nationwide collaboration will work towards preventing and treating various diseases.
“Incorporating a hub-and-spoke model enables us to attain efficiencies that would be otherwise unattainable, facilitating swift communication with patients, providers, and other stakeholders,” stated ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn.
According to the release, Dallas has been designated as the agency’s customer experience hub, with the responsibility of creating health solutions that are easily accessible, necessary, and quickly accepted. This initiative will involve broadening the scope of clinical trials and ensuring representation of diverse patient populations. The Dallas location will be overseen by Advanced Technology International, a nonprofit organization specializing in public service and primarily collaborating with the Department of Defense.
The number of jobs that would be generated by the hub was not immediately evident.
Gov. Greg Abbott declared on Tuesday that the Dallas-Fort Worth region is the perfect spot for a national hub due to its flourishing health sciences industry.
Abbott stated that Texas is at the forefront of healthcare research and innovation, addressing numerous scientific obstacles faced by our nation and the global community.
Dallas’s selection comes more than a year after a group of U.S. representatives from Texas and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, authored a letter urging Xavier Becerra, U.S. secretary of health & human services, to bring the agency to Texas. Earlier this year, a bipartisan group of U.S. representatives from Texas also signed onto a letter advocating for ARPA-H in the state, along with a similar letter signed by both Cornyn and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
In the letter, it was stated that Texas possesses the necessary infrastructure, diversity, and technology for ARPA-H to flourish. This includes being home to the world’s largest medical center and the largest military medical complex in the United States.
Though the agency ultimately chose Dallas, the world’s largest medical center, Texas Medical Center, is actually located in Houston — which Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner noted last year when he pushed for the agency to be housed in his home city.
Nevertheless, although the three national hub cities will serve as focal points for the research, ARPA-H has acknowledged that extending its reach beyond these cities and states is a crucial objective for the agency.
“In the Tuesday release, Becerra stated that ARPANET-H is a clear demonstration of our dedication to promoting inclusivity and innovation in the field of healthcare. By incorporating a wide range of advanced health capabilities, this expansive nationwide network exemplifies our steadfast mission to revolutionize health outcomes not only across the country but also globally.”
As The Texas Tribune’s signature event of the year, The Texas Tribune Festival brings Texans closer to politics, policy and the day’s news from Texas and beyond. On Sept. 23, we wrapped our 2023 Festival — three lively days packed with 125+ sessions and events. Browse on-demand recordings and catch up on the biggest headlines from Festival events at the Tribune’s Festival news page.
