La Colaborativa Joins a Nationwide Network Working to Accelerate Transformative Health Solutions through ARPA-H
Chelsea, MA — La Colaborativa, a preeminent nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the welfare of Chelsea and the Metro North Region, has been designated as a Spoke for the prestigious Investor Catalyst Hub, a nationwide health innovation network launched by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The designation is emblematic of the unique, community-driven solutions La Colaborativa undertakes to holistically address health disparities through its triage model.
“From racing door-to-door to safeguard residents from COVID-19 to providing healthcare to all, regardless of income,, La Colaborativa is committed to uplifting the wellbeing of our community,” announced Gladys Vega, President of La Colaborativa. “After spearheading efforts to have the ARPA-H Hub established in Cambridge, I’m thrilled that we’ve been designated to work in partnership with the Investor Catalyst Hub.”
“Addressing the most daunting challenges of healthcare affecting our community requires a thoughtful, holistic approach that leverages housing, nutrition, and economic mobility to promote positive health outcomes,” stated Dinanyili Paulino, Executive Vice President. “We look forward to elevating our community through this partnership.”
Through this endeavor, La Colaborativa gains access to potential funding and flexible contracting for faster award execution compared to traditional government contracts. Spoke membership also offers opportunities to provide input on ARPA-H challenge areas and priorities, along with access to valuable networking opportunities and a robust resource library.
“Harnessing our varied experience, this partnership will enable La Colaborativa to pioneer the design, piloting, and creation of new solutions that tackle healthcare access, nutrition, economic security, and the built environment, with the goal of fundamentally reshaping the healthcare system to the benefit of our community,” announced Alex Train, COO, La Colaborativa.
Based in the Greater Boston area and managed by VentureWell, the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub seeks to accelerate the commercialization of groundbreaking and accessible biomedical solutions. It utilizes an innovative hub-and-spoke model designed to reach a wide range of organizations, with the ultimate aim of delivering scalable healthcare outcomes for all Americans.
La Colaborativa joins a dynamic nationwide network of organizations aligned to ARPA-H’s overarching mission to improve health outcomes through the following research focus areas: health science futures, proactive health, scalable solutions, and resilient systems. Investor Catalyst Hub spokes represent a broad spectrum of expertise, geographic diversity, and community perspectives.
“Our vibrant spoke network reflects a robust range of experts with a shared commitment to closing gaps in innovation,” said Chelsea Schiller, Director of the Investor Catalyst Hub. “By building connections between our network and ARPA-H programs, we can help speed up the transition of innovative ideas into sustainable health solutions for all.”
The spoke network will continue to grow as the Investor Catalyst Hub expands its efforts, with applications being selected on a rolling basis. Interested organizations can visit https://investorcatalysthub.org/ to learn more or submit a membership application.
