DARPA - Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

RBC-Factory

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:06:01 +0000

RBC-Factory

DARPA is hosting a virtual Proposers Day for the potential proposer community in support of a planned Program Solicitation publication for Red Blood Cell Factory (RBC-Factory). Advance registration is required. | See Program

thomas.sakell… Mon, 12/30/2024 - 18:06

RBC-Factory

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:40:05 +0000

RBC-Factory

Summary

RBC-Factory will create a medical device-based platform to accessorize human red blood cells (RBCs) with additional biologically active components (aka cargoes).

Warfighters operate in environments that stress physiology in many ways. Red blood cells with cargoes will allow recipients to maintain performance in these environments. RBC-Factory will generate foundational knowledge and produce a prototype to explore the limits of integrating different cargoes into RBCs.

Warfighters often enter these conditions with little or no physiological preparation or protection, thus reducing operational readiness. Increased preparedness prior to deployment and enduring protection while in theater is needed for service members to operate effectively in extreme environments.

Modified red blood cells will allow recipients such as warfighters to operate more effectively in dangerous or extreme environments. Biologically active components (‘cargoes’) are defined herein as small molecules, peptides, proteins, pigments, colloids, and nanomaterials of either human-made or natural origin.

RBC-Factory principally seeks novel approaches to modify RBC at scale with demonstrations that are substantiated by prototypes.

Program Manager

Read bio

Resources

Opportunity

DARPA-SN-25-16

Publication: Dec. 11, 2024
Deadline: Jan. 3, 2025

Program solicitation

thomas.sakell… Mon, 12/30/2024 - 17:40

RBC-Factory Proposers Day

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:22:02 +0000

RBC-Factory Proposers Day thomas.sakell… Mon, 12/30/2024 - 09:22

The Biological Technologies Office (BTO) of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is hosting a virtual Proposers Day for the potential proposer community in support of a planned Program Solicitation publication for Red Blood Cell Factory (RBC-Factory). Advance registration is required.

Note: all times listed in this announcement, the agenda, and on the registration website are in Eastern Time.

The Proposers Day goals include:

Introduce the RBC-Factory program vision and goals to the research community
Explain the mechanics of a DARPA program in general and the objectives and milestones of this program in particular
Encourage and promote teaming arrangements among organizations that have the relevant expertise, research facilities, and capabilities for executing research and development responsive to the RBC-Factory program goals.

The Proposers Day will include brief overview presentations by government personnel as well as an information session to respond to questions from participants. Potential performers can highlight their technical capabilities through “lightning” talks to help identify opportunities for and develop teaming relationships. There will be an opportunity to meet with the Program Manager, Dr. Christopher Bettinger, in virtual sidebars on January 8, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. These sidebars can be requested as individual/team sessions during the registration process. Sidebar meetings will not provide feedback on ideas but rather will cover whether a particular approach or concept is within scope.

Attendance at this event is not a requirement for submission of a proposal or selection for funding. Information relayed during the Proposers Day will be made available on the BTO section of DARPA Programs.

Resources

Registration

Iskren Abdomerovic

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 18:11:30 +0000

Iskren Abdomerovic thomas.sakell… Fri, 12/27/2024 - 13:11

Dr. Iskren Abdomerovic joined DARPA in October 2024 as a program manager in the Strategic Technology Office. His research interests include electronic circuits, signal processing, radar, communications, and electronic warfare.

Prior to joining DARPA as a program manager, Dr. Abdomerovic worked as a scientist with Booz Allen Hamilton, where he advised DARPA and other U.S. government clients on research and development programs in advanced microelectronics. Prior to Booz Allen Hamilton, Dr. Abdomerovic worked as a senior signal processing engineer at Thales Communications and a radio frequency (RF) engineer at Agilent Technologies.

Dr. Abdomerovic earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Louisville with highest honors. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech with research focus on switchless millimeter wave (mmWave) power amplifier low noise amplifier (PALNA) transmit/receive RF integrated circuits for sensor applications.

Contact me

John Bruzzese

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 18:00:02 +0000

John Bruzzese thomas.sakell… Fri, 12/27/2024 - 13:00

Dr. John Bruzzese joined DARPA in October 2024 as a program manager in the Strategic Technology Office. His research interests include lasers, optical sensors, and countermeasures in the air and space domains.

Early in his career, Dr. Bruzzese held positions at the Air Force Research Laboratory Systems Technology Office (AFRL/STO) and the National Reconnaissance Office Survivability Assurance Office (NRO/SAO). His contributions to technology development in those positions have enhanced warfighting capabilities across the defense architecture. Immediately prior to his appointment at DARPA, Dr. Bruzzese worked as the chief engineer for coherently combined high energy lasers at Coherent Aerospace and Defense.

Dr. Bruzzese’s education includes a master’s degree and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from The Ohio State University.

Contact me

Tristan Tager

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 17:54:17 +0000

Tristan Tager thomas.sakell… Fri, 12/27/2024 - 12:54

Mr. Tristan Tager joined DARPA in July 2024 as a program manager in the Strategic Technology Office. His research interest areas include foundational and next-gen artificial intelligence (AI), complexity theory, systems theory, theoretical mathematics and physics, applied psychology, and more.

Prior to DARPA, Tager was a co-founder and chief scientist at Modern Intelligence, where he led engineering and research teams in developing multimodal computer perception systems for Department of Defense applications. Previously, he was lead AI research scientist at Genentech, where he and his team applied AI to multiple facets of drug discovery, ranging from cancer detection and analysis to automating various components of the clinical trial process.

Tager received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Duke University.

Contact me

MICA Proposers Day

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:35:03 +0000

MICA Proposers Day thomas.sakell… Mon, 12/23/2024 - 15:35

DARPA will host an in-person Proposers Day in support of the Microsystem Induced CAtalysis MICA program on January 23, 2025, at Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), 8283 Greensboro Drive, Hamilton Building Auditorium, McLean, VA 22102 from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. ET.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide information on the MICA program, promote additional discussion on this topic, address questions from potential proposers, and provide an opportunity for potential proposers to share their capabilities and ideas for teaming arrangements.

Event

Proposers Day
Jan. 23, 2024
8 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, VA
Event registration

Resources

MICA: Microsystem Induced CAtalysis program
Microsystems Technology Office (MTO)

Opportunity

DARPA-SN-25-24

Publication: Dec. 23, 2024
Deadline: Jan. 15, 2025

Announcement

MICA Proposers Day

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:29:46 +0000

MICA Proposers Day

DARPA will host an in-person Proposers Day in support of the Microsystem Induced CAtalysis program on Jan. 23, 2025, at Booz Allen Hamilton in McLean, VA from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. | See event

thomas.sakell… Mon, 12/23/2024 - 15:29

YFA 2025

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:13:59 +0000

YFA 2025

The Young Faculty Award program identifies and engages rising stars in junior research positions in academia and non-profit research institutions to expose them to DOD and DARPA needs. | See Award

thomas.sakell… Mon, 12/23/2024 - 15:13

Sushma Savarala

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:32 +0000

Sushma Savarala thomas.sakell… Mon, 12/23/2024 - 14:58

Dr. Sushma Savarala joined the DARPA in October 2024 as a Program Manager in the Biological Technologies Office. Her expertise spans regulatory affairs, product development, drug delivery, and innovation within the pharmaceutical and supplement industries.

In addition to her role at DARPA, Savarala serves as an interdisciplinary scientist at the Center for Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain Administration of Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Prior to her tenure at DARPA, she led multiple initiatives in program management, strategic planning, FDA compliance, COVID-19 emergency preparedness, and collaborated with key organizations such as DARPA, the FDA, NIH, NIST, and BARDA.

Savarala earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Temple University.

Contact me