ARPA-H launches Surpass program to speed and broaden clinical trials

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a new initiative called Surpass, aimed at removing obstacles that slow clinical development and changing how trials are designed and run.

Surpass stands for simulation‑augmented, real‑time platform adaptive seamless trials. It will use predictive computational models, shared trial infrastructure, common control groups, and real‑time analysis to enable earlier, smarter decision making.

HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. said the goal is to move away from disconnected, repetitive trials toward reusable infrastructure, secure information, adaptive research, wider patient access and easier recruitment.

Alongside Surpass, ARPA‑H is starting three complementary projects, two in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, including the Stack project that will apply artificial intelligence to accelerate trial processes.