Non-Optical Methods for High Speed Protein Control

The contract issued by DARPA's Biology Technologies Office focuses on identifying innovative, post-competitive solutions for developing a new class of rapidly switchable, non-optogenetic protein domains capable of enabling real-time cellular control. This initiative aims to create a robust and versatile molecular tool that facilitates massless information transfer across cell membranes, thereby enhancing current synthetic biology platforms. The project seeks breakthroughs in high-speed protein control without relying on optical methods, addressing an emerging need in cellular engineering. The solicitation, titled "Non-Optical Methods for High Speed Protein Control" and issued under DARPA-SN-26-89, was posted on June 8, 2026, with a response deadline set for December 8, 2026. It is categorized under the NAICS code 541714 and managed through the Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Interested parties can contact Dr. Matthew Pava at DARPA/BTO via email for further information. The contract encourages participation through the ERIS Marketplace, offering a streamlined path for awardable solutions that could dramatically advance synthetic biology toolsets by enabling rapid, precise control over cellular functions.