Brain Repair of Any Injured Neural Structure (BRAINS) Exploratory Topic
ARPA-H's BRAINS program funds research to engineer and graft precursor brain tissues for repairing diverse brain regions and restoring function lost to injury or disease.
Funder: Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
Due Dates: July 9, 2026 (Solution Summary) | August 6, 2026 (Full Proposal) | February 6, 2027 (Proposers' Day response) | February 26, 2027 (Offers Due)
Funding Amounts: Award duration: 18 months per intake group; specific funding amounts not stated. Two 9-month phases per award.
Summary: Supports the development of graftable precursor brain tissues to repair diverse brain regions and restore function lost to injury or disease.
Key Information: Submission of a Solution Summary by July 9, 2026 is required to be eligible for a full proposal.
Description
The Brain Repair of Any Injured Neural Structure (BRAINS) Exploratory Topic is a major initiative by ARPA-H aimed at advancing regenerative medicine for the brain. The program seeks to develop graftable precursor tissues for multiple brain regions beyond the neocortex, including the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, striatum, cingulate cortex, substantia nigra, brainstem, and cerebellum. These regions are essential for movement, balance, mood, autonomic regulation, and memory.
BRAINS targets restoration of lost abilities and independence in individuals affected by brain injuries, aging, congenital diseases, strokes, tumors, and infections. The program focuses on two technical areas:
- Designing developmental or tissue engineering methods to generate precursor tissue for non-neocortical brain areas.
- Demonstrating proof-of-concept for surgical engraftment of non-human fetal precursor tissues into adult brains.
Each intake group will have an 18-month project duration, split into two 9-month phases. The program is designed to catalyze transformative advances in brain repair, with the ultimate goal of restoring normal function for those with disabilities due to brain damage.
