Biological Robustness in Complex Settings (BRICS)

Added: Aug 12, 2014 2:36 pm Through the Biological Robustness in Complex Settings (BRICS) program, DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals to develop the necessary fundamental understanding and component technologies to create robust engineered biological systems. It is expected that technology developed in the BRICS program will enable the safe transition of synthetic biological systems from stringently controlled laboratory environments to more complex settings. The BRICS portfolio will consist of a set of programs, of which this is the first, that aim to elucidate the design principles of engineering robust biological consortia and apply this fundamental understanding towards specific DoD applications. This announcement calls for the development of generalizable approaches that may be ultimately integrated into a complex biological system. DARPA anticipates a second BAA comprising specific challenge scenarios that require the integration of capabilities developed within this program.