Biological Technologies | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

DARPA is offering a discretionary research grant opportunity through its Biological Technologies Office (BTO) under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 14-38. The core purpose is to fund high-risk, high-reward research that sits at the intersection of biology with engineering and the physical and computer sciences. The program is explicitly not looking for incremental, step-by-step improvements to existing methods. Instead, it is looking for unconventional ideas that challenge standard assumptions, could reset what is considered possible, and potentially open up entirely new technical directions or fields.

A major theme is transforming how the Department of Defense and the broader research community understand, measure, and engineer biological systems. DARPA emphasizes approaches that are creative and agile not only in the technology itself, but also in how teams are organized and how the work is executed. BTO also signals a strong interest in building new technical communities, including drawing innovation from outside traditional DoD contractor and performer networks. In practice, that means proposals can come from a wide range of organizations and disciplines, and multi-disciplinary teams are a natural fit given the biological-plus-engineering focus.

The topical scope is broad, but the announcement highlights several priority areas. One set of topics focuses on the health, readiness, and performance of military service members, including radical new methods to restore and maintain health and capability. Closely related is work that uses neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science, and adjacent fields to improve neurological health, resilience, and human performance, with an emphasis on novel mechanisms, new treatment concepts, or new ways to optimize aptitude under stress. Another emphasis is improving how humans interface with complex environments, including the physical and biological world, which can include advanced sensing, adaptive systems, human-machine teaming, or other interface concepts that enable better performance in demanding operational settings.

On the foundational science and engineering side, BTO is interested in uncovering the design rules that govern biological behavior and then turning that understanding into practical capabilities. This includes new tools and techniques for "forward engineering" biology, meaning the deliberate design and construction of biological systems such as cells, tissues, organs, or whole organisms. The intent is both to create new functional systems or products and to use engineered systems as a way to test hypotheses and reveal underlying biological mechanisms. Computational approaches are also a key pillar: proposals may leverage computer science, big data methods, and biology to extract knowledge from biological data at scale, along with new theories and computational models that explain collective behavior across levels of organization, from cells to individuals to ecosystems.

The opportunity also points to interest in population-level and ecosystem dynamics, especially identifying inflection points where systems shift abruptly. Understanding those thresholds could support maintaining stability, avoiding catastrophic outcomes, or creating strategic opportunities. In parallel, DARPA highlights non-human biology as an innovation source, including insights drawn from microbes, plants, marine life, and other organisms, particularly across populations and environments. Another distinctly cross-cutting topic is how social, environmental, and biological factors interact to contribute to violence and conflict or, conversely, deterrence and influence, reflecting an interest in complex systems where human behavior and biology intersect with environmental pressures.

Finally, the announcement calls for radical new countermeasure approaches for biological, chemical, and/or radiological threats, again with the same emphasis on disruptive rather than incremental advances. It also leaves room for other biological technology areas as long as they align with BTOs mission and fit the BAA scope, effectively inviting applicants to propose bold ideas that may not fit neatly into a predefined category.

Administratively, the funding opportunity number is DARPA BAA 14-38, titled "Biological Technologies," offered as a grant within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 12.910). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. The opportunity was posted May 1, 2014, with an original and current closing date of April 30, 2015, and an archive date of May 30, 2015. For access issues or questions about the announcement, the listed contact is the BAA Administrator at DARPA/BTO, 675 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22203-2114.

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Next opportunity: Operation

Previous opportunity: Inmate Wild Horse Burro Training, Holding, and Adoption Project, within the State of Colorado. including holding, feeding and care, in Colorado.

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for DARPA BAA 14 38

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DARPA BAA 14 38) also looked into and applied for these:

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DARPA BAA 14 38", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.