Mission Mobile Medical Group Announces ARPA-H Award of Up to $26M to Expand Rural Mobile Healthcare

Greensboro, NC, (February 12, 2025) — In a significant step toward addressing healthcare inequalities in rural America, Mission Mobile Medical Group has been awarded up to $26 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop the next-generation mobile clinic under the Platform Accelerating Rural Access to Distributed & Integrated Medical Care (PARADIGM) program. These modular, EV-based health units will bring essential medical diagnostics and specialized care to remote and underserved areas, revolutionizing healthcare access for millions.

Mission Mobile Medical’s state-of-the-art electric vehicle platform, MARCUS (Mobile Access to Revolutionary Care Connecting US), will deliver reconfigurable cutting-edge medical suites to meet the diverse clinic needs available to rural communities nationwide. Medical services will range from advanced imaging to laboratory testing and specialty care, all within a flexible and customizable EV-based system.

With over 60 million Americans living in rural areas, many face increased mortality from heart disease, cancer, trauma, lung disease, and stroke due to a lack of access to essential health services.

“Only 12% of physicians practice in rural communities,” said Travis LeFever, CEO of Mission Mobile Group. “With such limited access to medical care and emergency services, rural families, especially children, face barriers to care that should make us all question our priorities, political policies, and our public and personal principles—access to healthcare should reflect our collective commitment to equity, dignity, and the well-being of every American, no matter where we live. The MARCUS platform aims to change that by modernizing healthcare for those millions of underserved Americans.”

The modular design of MARCUS facilitates access to dozens of custom medical suites to be swapped in and out within minutes based on the specific healthcare needs of the community, such as cancer screenings, advanced imaging (CT scanner, ultrasound), or advanced diagnostics. These multi-purpose CDP capsules will forge new developments in point-of-care diagnostics and be equipped with intelligent task guidance systems that seamlessly integrate with electronic health records (EHRs), enabling healthcare providers to offer real-time, interactive decision support.

MARCUS is built on a rugged EV skateboard chassis, ensuring reliable operation in diverse terrains, from rural highways to mountainous areas. The EV-based platform will provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution compared to traditional diesel-powered mobile units.

“The MARCUS system will not only increase access to medical care but also reduce the need for expensive infrastructure and centralizing diagnostics in mobile units, allowing rural hospitals to offer cutting-edge care without significant capital investments, ensuring long-term sustainability,” added LeFever. “We are honored to work alongside ARPA-H and incredibly innovative partners to support the vision for the PARADIGM program. Mission Mobile Medical Group’s goal is to mitigate health disparities and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans. By expanding the geographic reach of services, we are confident that this program will be a game-changer for healthcare providers and patients alike.”

Mission Mobile Medical leads one of the teams selected for the PARADIGM program, working with the following partners to incorporate a range of new, innovative concepts into its EV vehicle:

- Mollie Williams, DrPH, MPH, Executive Director of The Family Van and Mobile Health Map and lecturer at Harvard University School of Medicine;

- Emily D’Agostino, DrPH, MS, Med, MA, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine;

- Roger Tang, PhD, Chief Technology Officer, Triple Ring Technologies; and

- Millie Arora, humanity and social science expert and partner at ReD Associates.

The first modular units are expected to be deployed by mid-2025, with full national rollout anticipated by 2027.

To learn more about how the PARADIGM program is transforming rural healthcare or to explore partnership opportunities, visit www.MissionMobileMed.com.

About Mission Mobile Medical

Mission Mobile Medical is the world’s largest mobile health company. They are on a mission to expand access to high-quality medical care by providing turnkey mobile health programs to communities. From primary care and screenings to dental and specialty care, Mission Mobile Medical empowers health systems and local governments to serve patients in precisely the right place and time, drive savings for health payors in rural geographies, and save lives. For more information, visit https://www.missionmobilemed.com/

This research was funded, in part, by the U.S. Government. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.

Media Contacts

Dana Summers

Penman PR for Mission Mobile Medical dana@penmanpr.com