US government unveils AI-driven SURPASS program to accelerate clinical trials

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is launching four new initiatives aimed at modernizing clinical trial design, site activation, consent processes and patient data collection.

The program, called Simulation-augmented, Real-time Platform Adaptive Seamless Trials (SURPASS), will use advanced computational models, real-time analysis and automation to evaluate drugs and biologics more quickly, at lower cost and with fewer participants.

According to the release, the streamlined designs are intended to reduce patient burden and expand trial access, allowing more patients to take part in studies that are more likely to benefit them.

The SURPASS effort coincides with a recent executive order signed by President Trump to create an AI-powered chatbot for government services, underscoring a broader push to incorporate artificial intelligence into health-related federal initiatives.