Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP) Proposers' Day

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), operating under the National Institutes of Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, has issued a Special Notice announcing a Proposers' Day for the Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP) program. This special notice alerts the scientific community to a newly approved research initiative and provides information regarding an associated proposers' event. The notice was posted on April 2, 2026, with a due date of April 21, 2026. The STOMP program operates under the Health Science Futures Office and represents a coordinated federal effort to address emerging health concerns related to microplastic exposure. The special notice mechanism enables the government to disseminate program information and facilitate early engagement with potential proposers.

The STOMP program aims to quantify micro- and nano-plastics in the human body, understand the mechanisms by which these materials cause harm, and develop solutions to prevent uptake and remove accumulated particles. The Proposers' Day will be held on April 22, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM ET in Washington, DC in hybrid format, with registration opening April 2, 2026, and closing April 17, 2026, for in-person attendance and April 21, 2026, for virtual attendance. The program is structured across three technical areas: TA1 (Measurement), TA2 (Understanding), and TA3 (Removal), with the latter scheduled for solicitation at Month 24. Proposers must submit separate proposals for TA1 and TA2 addressing all required components, with teaming across institutions strongly encouraged. An Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) will be published no later than April 2, 2026, and participation in the Proposers' Day, while optional, is strongly encouraged to facilitate collaboration and clarify program expectations.