Systems for Phenotypic Evaluation, Clinical Trajectories, Response, and Agency (SPECTRA)

The Systems for Phenotypic Evaluation, Clinical Trajectories, Response, and Agency (SPECTRA) program, issued by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Proactive Health Office under solicitation ARPA-H-SOL-26-163, seeks innovative solutions to identify and act upon autism trajectories across the lifespan. The program focuses on the nonlinear interactions of genetic, biological, behavioral, and environmental factors to move toward personalized care. The scope is divided into four Technical Areas: TA1 focuses on multi-factor analysis and trajectory identification; TA2 involves population-scale modeling and data integration; TA3 centers on precision intervention and trajectory testing; and TA4 targets technologies for communication, quality of life, and embedded assessment. Awards will be made using Other Transaction (OT) instruments through a two-stage submission process consisting of a Solution Summary and a Full Proposal. Technical performance is monitored via a milestone-based system with evaluation gates at Month 10, Month 22, and a final evaluation at Month 46. Key requirements include strict adherence to HIPAA Privacy Rule de-identification standards, the implementation of independent data safety monitoring boards for harm surveillance, and the disclosure of any organizational conflicts of interest. Submissions must follow specific formatting guidelines, including the use of Avenir Next LT Pro font for summaries and a multi-volume structure for full proposals, with a response deadline of December 2, 2026.