Special to the Record
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,” said Gladys Vega, President of La Colaborativa. “After spearheading efforts to have the ARPA-H Hub established in Cambridge, I’m thrilled that we’re partnering with the Investor Catalyst Hub.”
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. This effort expands the foundation of health interventions designed by La Colaborativa and Massachusetts General Brigham, with the goal of eliminating health disparities.
“Through this partnership, we look forward to tackling the most daunting challenges of healthcare affecting our community with a thoughtful approach that addresses housing, food security, and economic mobility to promote positive health outcomes,” stated Dinanyili Paulino, Executive Vice President.
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.
“Harnessing our varied experience, this effort will enable La Colaborativa to pioneer new solutions that meaningfully improve healthcare access, nutrition, economic security, and the built environment, with the goal of fundamentally reshaping the healthcare system to the benefit of our community,” said Alex Train, COO, La Colaborativa.
Chelsea Schiller, Director of the Investor Catalyst Hub said the vibrant spoke network reflects a robust range of experts with a shared commitment to closing gaps in innovation.
“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,” Schiller said.
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.