UNifying Imaging with QUantum Entanglement (UNIQUE) Proposers' Day

The National Institutes of Health's Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is conducting a Proposers' Day for the UNifying Imaging with Quantum Entanglement (UNIQUE) program on October 16, 2026, at 8:30 AM ET at the Executive Conference Center, 4075 Wilson Blvd, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203, in hybrid format (in-person and online). This Special Notice is informational only and does not constitute a formal solicitation; participation is voluntary and not required for subsequent ARPA-H solicitations.

The UNIQUE program explores quantum-derived observables in biomedical imaging to detect disease biology currently invisible to existing imaging modalities. Proposers must address two integrated technical areas: TA1 (Imaging Core) focuses on generating and measuring quantum-derived imaging contrast using entangled 511 keV photons in phantom and benchtop systems, and TA2 (Quantum AI Interpretation and Fusion) develops AI-driven reconstruction and fusion methods to integrate anatomical, functional, molecular, and quantum-derived observables. Comprehensive proposals must address both technical areas.

Registration opens September 25, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET and closes 48 hours before the event; advance registration is required for the live Q&A session (11:30 AM–12:15 PM ET) and sidebar meetings (1:30 PM–3:30 PM ET), which are limited in availability. Interested parties may submit a single lightning talk slide (three-minute presentation) by September 22, 2026, on a first-come, first-served basis, and may submit teaming profiles via the UNIQUE Teaming Profile Form to identify partnership opportunities. ARPA-H will publish an Innovative Solutions Opening no later than September 18, 2026. Contact Wilfred Ngwa, Program Manager, at UNIQUE@arpa-h.gov.