New Federal R&D Opportunity: ARPA-H Launches BioStabilization Systems (BoSS)
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) – Health & Human Service (HHS)’s “high-risk, high-reward” health innovation agency – is inviting teams to propose breakthrough technologies that could make today’s most fragile cell-based therapies far easier (and cheaper) to manufacture, store, and distribute.
Through its newly announced BioStabilization Systems (BoSS) program, ARPA-H is targeting a major bottleneck in advanced biologics: dependence on ultra-cold storage and transport (the “cold chain”). If successful, BoSS-funded solutions could enable room-temperature stabilization and scalable processing of cells, expanding access and strengthening biomanufacturing resilience.
What BoSS is Funding
BoSS is structured around two complementary needs:
- Cell interventions to enable stabilization and restoration (“reanimation”), and
- Engineering scalable cell processing systems that can deploy those strategies in real-world manufacturing settings.
ARPA-H anticipates making multiple awards using Other Transaction (OT) agreements, and is also seeking an Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) partner to support testing and performance assessment during the program.
Key Dates
BoSS Proposers’ Day (optional): January 29, 2026 (Washington, DC)
- Registration deadlines (per the Solutions Portal):
- In-person registration closes: January 16, 2026
- Virtual registration closes: January 25, 2026
Q&A submission deadline: January 22, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)
For consideration as a Performer (technical teams):
- Solution Summary due: February 19, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)
- Solution Pitch due: March 26, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)
For consideration as an IV&V partner:
- Solution Summary due: April 17, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)
- Solution Pitch due: May 15, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)
Application Requirements & Submission Pathway
A few requirements to note up front:
- A Solution Summary is required to proceed in the process (it’s the entry point before pitching).
- A Solution Pitch is encouraged and is used for deeper scientific/technical review after Solution Summary feedback.
- Submissions must follow the solicitation’s content/format instructions; non-conforming submissions can be removed from consideration.
Where To Submit
- BoSS program page: https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/boss
- Apply (Solution Summaries & Pitch materials): https://solutions.arpa-h.gov/Submit-Solution
- Submit questions (Q&A): https://solutions.arpa-h.gov/Ask-A-Question/
- Proposers’ Day info/registration: https://solutions.arpa-h.gov/boss ARP-AH Solutions
- BoSS FAQs: https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/boss/faqs ARPA-H
- Teaming profiles (to find collaborators): https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/boss/teaming ARPA-H
Why This Matters For Our Community
BoSS sits at the intersection of cell therapy, materials science, bioprocess engineering, and manufacturing scale-up—areas where university labs, startups, health systems, and advanced manufacturing partners can bring complementary strengths. ARPA-H specifically anticipates that teaming may be necessary, and it has created a teaming page to help groups connect.
If you’re interested in forming (or joining) a team, start by reviewing the BoSS page and FAQs, then consider attending Proposers’ Day and submitting a Solution Summary through the ARPA-H Solutions Portal:
