The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), through its Biological Technologies Office (BTO), has issued Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-77 to announce forthcoming areas of interest for the Resuscitation and Prevention of Ischemia-Induced Dysfunction (RAPIID) program. As part of DARPA’s broader mission to accelerate breakthrough technologies for national security, this initiative aims to address one of the most persistent challenges in emergency and battlefield medicine: the timely availability of life-saving blood products. At a high level, RAPIID seeks to catalyze the development of a shelf-stable, scalable blood analog system capable of supporting trauma care in austere environments, with the ultimate goal of improving survival outcomes for both warfighters and civilians.
Program Overview
The RAPIID program is centered on advancing biosynthetic alternatives to traditional blood components, including oxygen carriers, plasma, and platelet-like particles. These components are intended to function as a cohesive system, paired with enabling technologies such as durable delivery mechanisms (e.g., pre-filled syringes and intravenous (IV) bags), rapid point-of-care diagnostics, and clinical usage guidelines. DARPA is specifically targeting technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) or Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 3–4, meaning they have demonstrated early feasibility, including initial in vivo testing, and are ready for further maturation. In addition to technical development, the program places strong emphasis on regulatory strategy, large-scale manufacturing, commercialization pathways, and acquisition planning by the Department of War (DoW). Notably, DARPA encourages proposers to specialize, allowing teams to focus on discrete components or enabling technologies rather than delivering a fully integrated system.
RAPIID will be executed as a two-phase program over a total of 36 months. Phase 1, spanning 12 months, will focus on demonstrating the viability and compatibility of individual blood analog components through early preclinical and manufacturing studies, while also establishing initial regulatory and commercialization frameworks. Technologies that meet defined performance metrics in Phase 1 will advance to Phase 2, a 24-month effort dedicated to final preclinical development, clinical trials, regulatory execution, manufacturing scale-up, and product commercialization. This phased structure underscores DARPA’s commitment to transitioning promising technologies from early-stage research into deployable medical capabilities within an accelerated timeline.
At this stage, DARPA has not released formal solicitation or proposal deadlines. This Special Notice is issued strictly for informational and program planning purposes, and no submissions are being accepted. Interested organizations should monitor SAM.gov for the official solicitation release and may request to join the program’s distribution list by contacting [email protected]. Additionally, DARPAConnect offers preparatory resources, including guidance on Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) and Proposers’ Days, to support organizations new to DARPA funding opportunities.
Funding Overview
While specific funding details have not yet been disclosed, DARPA programs of this scope typically anticipate multiple awards across technical areas, with funding levels aligned to the maturity and complexity of proposed solutions. The expected period of performance is 36 months, structured across the two phases described above, with continuation contingent on successful completion of Phase 1 milestones. As additional details emerge in the formal solicitation, proposers should expect clearer guidance on award size, number of performers, and cost expectations.
Closing Perspective
The RAPIID program represents a significant step forward in addressing the limitations of traditional blood supply chains, particularly in environments where refrigeration, storage, and rapid transport are not feasible. By enabling the development of shelf-stable blood analogs, DARPA is driving innovation that could dramatically improve outcomes in trauma and hemorrhage scenarios, conditions that remain leading causes of preventable death worldwide. Organizations with capabilities in biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, manufacturing, or regulatory strategy should begin positioning now to align with DARPA’s objectives.
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