Dr. Alicia Jackson was appointed by President Trump as Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and sworn in on October 20, 2025. Dr. Jackson reports directly to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary.Dr. Jackson joins ARPA-H from Evernow, a company she founded and led as CEO, focused on transforming women’s health and longevity during menopause. Previously, she served as a Program Manager and, subsequently, Deputy Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Biological Technologies Office, guiding an investment portfolio across biodefense, novel medicine development, and biomanufacturing to protect the nation while advancing groundbreaking scientific capabilities. She has served as a Senate policy advisor, as well as co-founder, Board Member, and advisor of several biotech and health startups, including OOVA, ImmuneBridge, and Drawbridge Health.Dr. Jackson holds a Ph.D. in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.