President Biden Addresses Congress, Outlines Ambitious Goals

President Biden delivered a joint address to Congress last night, providing an update on the nation’s vaccination efforts and detailing his administration’s forward-looking objectives.

Focus on Domestic Policy and Health Research

The president’s initial 100 days in office have been marked by substantial legislative initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and addressing the climate crisis. However, during his address, Biden also emphasized a focused, yet equally significant, undertaking: to “end cancer as we know it.”

“I can identify no more valuable undertaking,” Biden stated on Wednesday evening. “I am unaware of anything more deserving of bipartisan support… Achieving this is within our capabilities.”

Introducing ARPA-H: A New Agency for Breakthrough Research

This declaration was foreshadowed earlier in the month with the White House’s submission of a budget proposal requesting $6.5 billion. This funding is intended to establish a novel government agency dedicated to pioneering health research.

The proposed agency, named ARPA-H, would be integrated within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Its initial areas of concentration will encompass cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, the agency will explore other avenues for “transformational innovation” to revolutionize health research.

The $6.5 billion allocation represents a portion of the overall $51 billion NIH budget. Nevertheless, some observers suggest that ARPA-H might function more effectively under the Department of Health and Human Services, rather than being situated within the NIH.

The DARPA Model for Health Innovation

ARPA-H’s structure will draw inspiration from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA is known for its development of ambitious technologies for defense purposes.

DARPA’s objectives frequently appear to be rooted in science fiction, but the agency has been instrumental in the development of numerous technologies now considered commonplace. These include a precursor to GPS and, most notably, ARPANET, the foundational network that evolved into the modern internet.

In contrast to conventional, incremental research approaches, DARPA actively pursues significant scientific breakthroughs. This approach aligns more closely with the ethos of Silicon Valley than with traditional governmental operations. Biden believes that applying the DARPA model to advanced health research will prevent the U.S. from falling behind in the field of biotechnology.

Maintaining Global Leadership in Innovation

“China and other nations are rapidly gaining ground,” Biden asserted during his address. “We must develop and lead in the technologies of the future, including advanced batteries, biotechnology, computer chips, and clean energy.”