This is an ARPA-H SBIR/STTR topic for US for-profit small businesses with 500 or fewer employees building a plug-and-play synthetic biology microbial platform, demonstrated through toxin removal for chronic disease and adaptable to environmental, biomanufacturing, agriculture, and therapeutic uses. It funds R&D, not commercialization of an existing product. If you are a nonprofit, a business over 500 employees, or not doing synthetic biology research, do not apply.
| Industry | Estimated fit |
|---|---|
| Technology & SoftwareMatches your industry (sbir, sttr) | 80 |
| Healthcare & BiotechMatches your industry (health) | 72 |
| Agriculture & FarmingMatches your industry (agriculture) | 61 |
| ManufacturingMatches your industry (manufacturing) | 59 |
| Food & BeverageMatches your industry (agriculture) | 57 |
| Energy & Clean TechLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses | 54 |
| Industry | Estimated fit |
|---|---|
| Housing & Real EstateLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses | 54 |
| Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses | 52 |
| Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses | 52 |
| Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses | 49 |
| Finance & BankingLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses | 49 |
| Arts & CultureLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants. | 0 |
| Education & TrainingLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants. | 0 |
| Environment & ConservationLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants. | 0 |
| Social Services & NonprofitLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants. | 0 |
These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.
SBIR/STTR Phase I and II funding for US for-profit small businesses (≤500 employees) to develop a universal plug-and-play synthetic biology microbial platform, demonstrated via toxin removal for chronic disease but adaptable to environmental remediation, biomanufacturing, agriculture, and therapeutics. STTR requires a nonprofit research partner doing ≥30% of work.
The purpose of this topic area is to catalyze the development of a universal, “plug-and-play” synthetic biology platform that enables next-generation microbial chassis capable of performing a broad array of programmable functions. While this solicitation primarily uses toxin removal as a proof-of-concept in relation to chronic disease management, the platform is intended to be adaptable to a range of challenges across industries such as environmental remediation, biomanufacturing, agriculture, holistic medicine, and therapeutic discovery. The broader goal is to create a stable, reliable, and easily reprogrammable microbial platform that demonstrates potential for cross-sector impact beyond the initial use case.
Program: SBIR/STTR, Phase I and Phase II Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, ARPA-H Topic number: ARPA-H 03 Solicitation: 7599226SN106 Proposals accepted from June 11, 2026 Closes September 30, 2027. Check the official solicitation for the exact due time. Official solicitation: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/34fa75da1d484987bd6dbc882deab889/view Listed on SBIR.gov: https://www.sbir.gov/topics/12788. SBIR.gov copies agency solicitations and can lag behind them; the official solicitation is the final word.
Small businesses only: a for-profit US business with 500 or fewer employees, including affiliates.
More than 50% owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent residents (some agencies also accept majority ownership by venture capital, hedge fund or private equity firms; the solicitation says).
SBIR: the principal investigator is primarily employed by the business. STTR: the business partners with a US nonprofit research institution or university, which does at least 30% of the work.
Registered in SAM.gov before submitting.
Check the official solicitation for its own conditions, proposal limits and security review.
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