The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has created a new division called the Biological Technologies Office (BTO) to explore the increasingly dynamic intersection of biology and physical sciences. This new office is merging biology, engineering, and computer science to harness the power of natural systems for national security. The goal is to apply the rigorous tools of engineering and related disciplines and design next-generation technologies inspired by insights gained from the life sciences.
BTO will expand on the work undertaken by DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office (MTO). Most recently, MTO initiated a number of programs at the intersection of biology and engineering. The first programs within DARPA’s BTO will come from MTO and the Defense Sciences Offices but will also include new opportunities beginning with the recently announced Hand Proprioception & Touch Interfaces (HAPTIX) program.
According to Geoff Ling, the first Director of BTO, research will focus on:
- Restoring and maintaining warfighter abilities
- Harnessing biological systems such as DARPA’s Living Foundries program to create a biologically-based manufacturing platform to provide access to new materials and capabilities
- Developing programs to make biological engineering safer
- Researching disease vectors migrating around the globe
- Specific programs such as Reliable Neural-Interface Technology (RE-NET), Dialysis- Like Therapeutics, and In Vivo Nanoplatforms
On May 1, 2014, DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office issued a Broad Agency Announcement (DARPA-BAA-14-38) on www.fbo.gov. BTO’s BAA is interested in proposals related to technologies to optimally restore and maintain the health and abilities of military service members, develop new tools and techniques for engineering biological systems, leverage new computational techniques from computer science, big data, and biology, plus there are more biological technology topic areas requested in the BAA.
For more information, go to www.darpa.mil and for BTO solicitations, go to www.darpa.mil/Opportunities/Solicitations/BTO_Solciitations.aspx. The BAA proposal abstracts and full proposals may be submitted on a rolling basis until April 30, 2015.