Brain Repair of Any Injured Neural Structure (BRAINS)

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is seeking innovative solutions through the Brain Repair of Any Injured Neural Structure (BRAINS) Exploratory Topic program under solicitation ARPA-H-SOL-26-148, which utilizes Other Transaction (OT) agreements rather than standard federal contract mechanisms. The program aims to advance technologies capable of restoring function to damaged brain regions—specifically targeting areas such as the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, striatum, cingulate cortex, substantia nigra, brainstem, and cerebellum—by generating and engrafting region-specific precursor tissue, while explicitly excluding the neocortex and spinal cord as well as conventional cell or organoid-based approaches. Proposers must submit a mandatory solution summary prior to full proposal submission, with two intake cycles: the first requiring solution summaries by July 9, 2026, and full proposals by August 6, 2026; the second, with deadlines of January 7, 2027, and February 6, 2027, respectively. Proposals must be submitted via the ARPA-H Solution Submission Portal and must conform to a strict three-volume structure: Volume I (Technical and Management Proposal with a 10-page limit for core content), Volume II (Cost Proposal using the ARPA-H Standard Excel Spreadsheet and supporting narrative), and Volume III (Administrative and Policy Requirements including certifications for organizational conflicts of interest, research security, biosecurity, cyber practices, animal research approvals, and tax compliance). Awardees will be evaluated based on the scientific and technical merit of the approach, the proposer’s expertise, potential for clinical and commercial impact aligned with ARPA-H’s mission, and the reasonableness of the proposed cost, with no preset weighting but ranked in descending importance. Phase I awards are anticipated at $500,000 per team with optional Phase II funding up to an additional $500,000, subject to successful technical milestones and budgetary compliance. Financial administration requires registration and invoice submission via the Payment Management Services (PMS) portal, with detailed justifications for each payment tied to specific milestones or TDD tasks, and salary support for individuals is capped at the Executive Level II rate set by the Office of Personnel Management. All awarded work must occur in the United States, with priority given to domestic entities, and proposers must confirm compliance with national security