Technology InteGrator and AcceleratoR (TIGAR) Exploratory Topic
Technology InteGrator and AcceleratoR (TIGAR) Exploratory Topic supports researchers developing high-risk tissue and organ preservation technologies to enable long-term storage and improve access to transplantation.
This grant was recently updated
Intake Group 1 is closed; Intake Group 2 deadlines are December 8, 2026 for summary videos and February 5, 2027 for proposals, replacing the June 8 and August 5, 2026 listings. Applicants must await ARPA-H feedback before proceeding; eligibility and technical guidance also changed.
Funder: Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
Due Dates: August 12, 2026 (Group 1 video, extended) | September 17, 2026 (Group 1 proposal, extended) | December 8, 2026 (Group 2 video) | February 5, 2027 (Group 2 proposal)
Funding Amounts: Up to $2 million per proposal over 18 months, in two nine-month phases
Summary: TIGAR supports early-stage, high-risk technologies for long-term preservation and functional recovery of complex tissues and organs.
Key Information: A Solution Summary Video is mandatory, and applicants must await ARPA-H feedback before submitting a full proposal.
Description
The Technology InteGrator and AcceleratoR (TIGAR) Exploratory Topic is an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) initiative addressing barriers to preserving complex human tissues. Current storage windows of hours to days contribute to organ shortages, restrict access to replacement tissues, and slow regenerative medicine. TIGAR funds bold preservation concepts that can generate foundational proof-of-concept results within a short performance period.
The initiative prioritizes non-cryogenic and temperature-flexible approaches that stabilize tissues, extend storage, and rapidly restore function after preservation. Its focus is long-term biobanking rather than incremental improvements to short-term organ logistics. Projects should demonstrate measurable progress against a preservation hurdle, then improve tissue function after long-term storage. The broader goals are to expand access to transplantation and enable new ways to repair the human body.
