UNifying Imaging with QUantum Entanglement (UNIQUE) Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO)

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) seeks innovative research proposals for quantum-enabled 511 keV photon-pair imaging technologies and computational methods to reconstruct multidimensional biomedical information, with solution summaries due October 29 and full proposals due December 15. Multiple Other Transaction (OT) Agreements will result from this Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO), not traditional contracts.

The program comprises two integrated technical areas spanning 18 months in two 9-month phases, with Phase II continuation contingent on Phase I performance. TA1 (Imaging Core) requires development of physical systems to generate and measure quantum-derived imaging contrast using entangled photons and decoherence-aware architectures in phantom and benchtop systems, with specified metrics including entanglement witness values, coincidence timing resolution, and photon-pair flux rates. TA2 (Quantum AI Interpretation and Fusion) requires AI-driven reconstruction and fusion methods integrating anatomical, functional, molecular, and quantum-derived observables into unified multidimensional representations, with deliverables including preliminary quantum decorrelation tomography atlases and improved phantom-state differentiation. Proposals must address both TAs in a single integrated submission led by a Principal Investigator and meet all specified milestones.

Eligible proposers include universities, non-profit organizations, small and large businesses under NAICS 541714; FFRDCs and federal government entities are prohibited as prime or subperformers. For-profit organizations not qualifying as small businesses under the NAICS 541714 threshold of 1000 employees must provide meaningful cost share. Early career investigators are preferred. All proposers must maintain active SAM.gov registrations and comply with research security disclosures, organizational conflict of interest requirements, and intellectual property representations. The Proposers' Day is October 16, and the Questions & Answers deadline is October 10. Submissions are made through the ARPA-H Solutions portal.