Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 11 22

  • The DARPA Defense Sciences Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Controlling Cellular Machinery Vaccines" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.910 Research and Technology Development.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jan 28, 2011 and posted on Nov 29, 2010.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 16, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
Apply for DARPA BAA 11 22

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Opportunity Summary:

The DARPA opportunity titled "Controlling Cellular Machinery - Vaccines" (Funding Opportunity Number: DARPA BAA 11-22) is a Defense Sciences Office research solicitation focused on advancing next-generation vaccine technology using synthetic biology and genetic circuit design. The core aim is to fund innovative research that can discover, design, evolve, and assemble genetic components, modules, and circuits to create a highly efficacious nucleic-acid-based vaccine. What makes the topic distinct is its emphasis on controllability inside the body: DARPA is specifically interested in vaccine systems whose activity can be regulated in vivo by the mammalian host, meaning the vaccine's behavior, expression, or functional output would be adjustable within the living organism rather than being fixed once administered.

From a technical standpoint, the solicitation is geared toward approaches that treat vaccine function as an engineered biological system rather than a single static construct. That includes building genetic parts and regulatory logic (circuits) that can respond to host conditions, signals, or physiological states, so the vaccine might turn on, turn off, scale up, or otherwise modulate antigen expression or immune stimulation in response to cues present in a mammalian environment. The language about discovering, designing, evolving, and assembling suggests DARPA is open to a broad range of strategies, including computational design, directed evolution, modular genetic engineering, and experimental demonstrations that show the system can work as intended. The end goal is not only a nucleic acid vaccine platform, but one that demonstrates controlled performance inside a host, with an emphasis on high efficacy.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using an "Other" funding instrument type under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category, listed under CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply as long as they meet any additional eligibility details contained in the full announcement. The opportunity was posted November 29, 2010, with an original and current closing date of February 16, 2011, and it was archived on April 15, 2011. Applicants are directed to the full announcement (DARPA BAA 11-22) via the provided link for complete requirements, submission instructions, and any program-specific constraints. For access issues, DARPA provides a BAA Coordinator contact for assistance.

FAQs - DARPA "Controlling Cellular Machinery - Vaccines" (BAA 11-22)

What is the name of this DARPA grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Controlling Cellular Machinery - Vaccines" under Funding Opportunity Number DARPA BAA 11-22.

Which DARPA office is sponsoring this solicitation?

This solicitation is issued by DARPA's Defense Sciences Office (DSO).

What is the main goal of the program?

The core goal is to advance next-generation vaccine technology by funding research that can discover, design, evolve, and assemble genetic components, modules, and circuits to create a highly efficacious nucleic-acid-based vaccine.

What makes this vaccine topic distinct compared to more traditional vaccine solicitations?

The distinctive emphasis is on controllability inside the body. DARPA is specifically interested in vaccine systems whose activity can be regulated in vivo by the mammalian host, meaning vaccine behavior, expression, or functional output can be adjusted within the living organism rather than being fixed once administered.

What type of vaccine platform is DARPA focusing on here?

The solicitation emphasizes a nucleic-acid-based vaccine platform, with an added focus on engineered control of performance in a mammalian host.

What does "controlling cellular machinery" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this context, it refers to treating vaccine function as an engineered biological system made of genetic parts and regulatory logic (genetic circuits). The intent is to create vaccine systems whose function can be regulated in vivo, rather than relying on a static, one-time programmed construct.

What kinds of technical approaches appear to be in scope?

Based on the language provided, DARPA appears open to a broad range of strategies, including computational design, directed evolution, modular genetic engineering, and experimental demonstrations showing the genetic components/modules/circuits work as intended in a mammalian environment.

What does it mean that the vaccine should be regulated "in vivo by the mammalian host"?

It means the vaccine system should be able to respond to cues present in a mammalian environment (host conditions, signals, or physiological states) so that its activity can be modulated inside the organism. Examples described at a high level include turning on, turning off, scaling up, or otherwise adjusting antigen expression or immune stimulation in response to host cues.

Is DARPA looking for a single static genetic construct?

No. The framing indicates DARPA is interested in vaccine function as an engineered system that uses genetic components and regulatory logic to enable controllable behavior, rather than a single fixed construct whose output cannot be adjusted after administration.

What outcomes does DARPA emphasize for the funded research?

The end goal is a nucleic acid vaccine platform that demonstrates controlled performance inside a host, with an emphasis on high efficacy.

What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity using an "Other" funding instrument type.

What is the activity category for this funding?

The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, as long as they meet any additional eligibility details contained in the full announcement.

Where should applicants look for complete requirements and submission instructions?

Applicants are directed to the full announcement (DARPA BAA 11-22) via the provided link for complete requirements, submission instructions, and any program-specific constraints.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on November 29, 2010.

What was the closing date for submissions?

The original and current closing date listed is February 16, 2011.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. It was archived on April 15, 2011, and the listed closing date was February 16, 2011.

Who should be contacted if there are access issues with the announcement materials?

DARPA provides a BAA Coordinator contact for assistance with access issues.

Does the summary provide details like award amounts, project duration, or the number of awards?

No. The information provided does not include award size, expected period of performance, or the anticipated number of awards. Those details, if available, would be in the full announcement (DARPA BAA 11-22).

Does the summary include specific submission formats or proposal components?

No. The provided information only directs applicants to the full announcement for complete submission instructions and requirements.

Are there additional constraints or program-specific rules applicants should expect?

Yes. The summary notes that complete requirements and any program-specific constraints are contained in the full announcement (DARPA BAA 11-22).

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