Reorganization and Plasticity to Accelerate Injury Recovery (REPAIR) | Apply Online

REPAIR (DARPA BAA 09-27) Grant Opportunity FAQs

What is the REPAIR opportunity (DARPA BAA 09-27)?

REPAIR stands for Reorganization and Plasticity to Accelerate Injury Recovery. It is a DARPA effort (BAA 09-27) run through DARPA's Defense Sciences Office focused on speeding recovery from brain injury by learning how to read, interpret, and ultimately leverage neural activity.

What problem is DARPA trying to solve with REPAIR?

The opportunity targets the challenge of making brain-injury recovery faster or more complete by improving the ability to analyze and decode neural signals. The premise is that the brain can reorganize after injury through plasticity, but doing this effectively and reliably requires better methods for interpreting neural recordings and understanding how neural organization changes over time during recovery.

What is the central scientific idea behind the program?

The central idea is that post-injury recovery depends on brain plasticity (reorganization), and that progress in recovery can be accelerated if researchers can identify the relevant "neural codes" and time-dependent patterns tied to function and rehabilitation, then use that understanding to inform sensory stimulation strategies.

What types of approaches is DARPA looking for?

DARPA is looking for new analytical and computational methods that can extract meaning from neural recordings, identify neural codes and temporal patterns, and build models that connect neural activity to function as those relationships change over time and under changing conditions (such as after injury).

What does DARPA mean by "neural codes" in this announcement?

Within the context provided, "neural codes" refers to the structure and patterns in neural signals that correspond to function and recovery, including how those patterns are organized in time and how they evolve as plasticity occurs after injury.

Is the focus on static decoding or tracking changes over time?

The focus is on time-varying interpretation and prediction, not just static decoding. The desired end state goes beyond a snapshot decoder or static classification and moves toward models that track reorganization and can forecast trajectories of recovery-related changes as plasticity unfolds.

What does "multiple scales" mean in the REPAIR program description?

"Multiple scales" refers to analyzing neural activity across different measurement levels. The description indicates this could include signals ranging from single-unit activity or local field activity to larger population-level dynamics and potentially broader network behavior, depending on the sensing modality used.

How does the program connect decoding neural activity to rehabilitation?

A key applied element is linking decoded neural information to neural-based sensory stimulation strategies. The idea is to measure neural signals, decode and model them to understand the current neural state and ongoing reorganization, and then use that insight to select or optimize stimulation patterns that encourage beneficial plasticity and accelerate recovery.

Is closed-loop stimulation implied by the opportunity?

Yes, the description implies a closed-loop or at least data-informed approach: record neural activity, interpret it with analytical and computational models, and use those results to guide stimulation delivered through sensory pathways.

What role do temporal patterns play in the program?

The opportunity emphasizes temporal patterns, indicating that timing, sequence, and dynamics in both neural activity and stimulation are considered critical. This suggests DARPA is interested in approaches that treat the problem as dynamic rather than as a simple on/off or single-parameter intervention.

Which DARPA office is running this effort?

The REPAIR program is run through DARPA's Defense Sciences Office.

What kind of funding opportunity is this?

The announcement is described as a discretionary research and development funding opportunity in the science and technology category.

How many awards did DARPA anticipate making?

DARPA anticipated making around 10 awards under this solicitation.

What funding instruments are allowed under this solicitation?

The solicitation allows multiple funding instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, contracts, and other procurement mechanisms. This indicates flexibility in how DARPA may structure relationships and deliverables depending on the proposed work.

Is cost sharing required?

No. The opportunity states that cost sharing is not required.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any entity type could apply, subject to any details and conditions contained in the full BAA text.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA listing provided is 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).

When was this solicitation posted?

The opportunity was posted on April 23, 2009.

What was the closing date for submissions?

The original and current closing date listed is April 22, 2010.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. It was archived on May 22, 2010, and the closing date was April 22, 2010.

Where can applicants find the full BAA requirements?

The announcement points applicants to the DARPA solicitations page for the complete BAA text.

Who is the point of contact for access issues with the full announcement?

The contact listed for access issues is Geoffrey Ling, identified as the BAA Coordinator.