DARPA Biological Funding Opportunity, Due 9-30-26
The DARPA Biological Technologies Office (BTO) is soliciting high-risk, high-reward research concepts that leverage biology to protect the nation’s warfighters and ensure mission success. BTO focuses on harnessing advances in AI/ML to transform the biological spectrum, developing medical countermeasures, and creating resilient bio-based infrastructures. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.
Key Technical Focus Areas
ML and AI for Biology: Advancing biological foundation models, accelerating biological system simulations (subcellular to environmental), and improving real-time threat assessment.
Combat Casualty Care: Developing novel therapeutics and assistive devices for non-skilled service members to perform medical tasks in austere/extreme conditions.
Human Performance: Optimizing neurological health, fatigue resilience, and cognitive status through biotechnology, neuroscience, and seamless biohybrid systems.
Materials, Sensors, & Processing: Designing bio-inspired sensors with reduced SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) and hybrid biological/engineered systems that surpass abiotic equivalents.
Agricultural & Environmental: Developing scalable countermeasures for global food/water stability and bio-based innovations for ecosystem restoration and post-disaster recovery.
Security & Surveillance: Developing advanced technologies for the detection, attribution, and forecasting of novel, engineered, or natural pathogens at scale.
Submission Details
Mandatory Abstract Phase: Proposers must submit an abstract and receive a notification to submit a full proposal. Proposals submitted without an invited abstract will not be reviewed.
Rolling Submission: Abstracts and proposals are accepted on a rolling basis until September 30, 2026.
Accelerated Award Option: Full proposals not exceeding $2,000,000 that agree to prescribed stipulations may be awarded within 30 days of notification.
To learn more about the funding, please contact David Madden for assistance.
Email: dave@chasmopps.com
