Today, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced its groundbreaking Functional Repair of Neocortical Tissue (FRONT) program, a transformative initiative to restore brain function and position the U.S. as the global leader in brain repair technology. FRONT aims to use cutting-edge neurodevelopmental principles and stem cell technology to regenerate brain tissue and restore lost functions.
“No technology exists to repair damaged tissue and fully restore lost function,” says Jean Hebert, Ph.D., FRONT’s Program Manager. “This will enable millions of individuals with what is currently considered permanent brain damage to regain lost functions, such as motor control, vision, and speech.“
The FRONT program spans five years, with strict performance metrics and a focus on preparing for human clinical trials. FRONT’s commitment to ethics and responsible development is paramount. The program will rely exclusively on adult-derived dedifferentiated stem cells.
ARPA-H will solicit proposals under its Innovative Solutions Opening (ARPA-H-SN-25-120) in two key areas: graft tissue generation and engraftment procedures for functional brain recovery. The solicitation outlines the opportunity and its requirements, key dates and deadlines, submission documents and templates, evaluation criteria for submissions, and information on how to apply.
Key Dates*:
- Proposers' Day: August 8, 2025 (register by August 5, 2025)
- Solution Summary Due: 5:00 PM ET on August 18, 2025 (summary is required to submit a full proposal)
Prospective proposers are encouraged (but not required) to form teams with varied technical expertise to submit a proposal.
For more information visit the FRONT program page.
* Dates are estimates and subject to change. Please reference the solicitation for the most up to date information