Advancing Healthy Aging: ARPA-H Launches PROSPR Initiative
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, has unveiled an ambitious program, PROactive Solutions for Prolonging Resilience (PROSPR), to enhance healthspan in the United States. Complementing this, ARPA-H has committed up to $52 million over four years to fund the Personalized Analytics for Transforming Health (PATH) project, led by the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and Phenome Health.
The PROSPR initiative addresses a vital question in longevity science: How can therapies extend the years individuals live in good health while delaying age-related diseases? By emphasizing quality of life over mere lifespan extension, PROSPR seeks to reduce frailty and disability in the later stages of life.
Focusing on Healthspan: The Goals of PROSPR
Building on the National Institute on Aging’s groundwork, PROSPR will foster collaboration between researchers, regulators, and industry leaders to accelerate the development of therapies that promote healthy aging. Dr. Andrew Brack, who oversees the program, highlighted its mission: “Our ultimate goal is to compress frailty and disability into a shorter period near the end of life, allowing aging adults to live longer, healthier lives.” 
Economic considerations also underscore PROSPR’s significance. ARPA-H estimates that age-related healthcare costs could rise by 75% in the coming years. Extending healthspan, even modestly, could save $29 billion annually and add $80 billion to the economy.
Key priorities include identifying biomarkers of early aging-related changes, developing diagnostic tools, and designing therapies to target the root causes of age-related conditions. The program aims to address non-disease consequences of aging, such as declines in memory, hearing, and muscle strength, representing a shift in focus for aging research.
PATH: Transforming Healthcare Through Data and AI
ARPA-H also announced its support for the PATH project, spearheaded by the Buck Institute and Phenome Health. With funding of up to $52 million, PATH aims to revolutionize healthcare by predicting and preventing chronic diseases. The project will recruit participants aged 50 and older, using wearable technology and digital tools to collect data before significant age-related health declines occur.
“This research represents a bold vision for biomedical science, combining data-driven analyses of individuals with a systems approach,” said Dr. Lee Hood, CEO of Phenome Health. PATH will harmonize global health datasets, identify chronic disease subtypes, and develop non-invasive monitoring tools.
A cornerstone of the project will be an AI-powered recommendation engine offering personalized health strategies to optimize healthspan. Buck CEO Dr. Eric Verdin emphasized the potential impact: “The PATH project could significantly improve millions of lives by providing foundational data and analytics for healthy aging.”
The Future of Healthy Aging
By launching PROSPR and backing PATH, ARPA-H has demonstrated a clear commitment to redefining aging science. These initiatives not only aim to extend the years Americans live in good health but also promise transformative healthcare tools that could shape the future of personalized medicine.
