Call for Concept Papers: Massively Scalable Neurotechnologies
A Conversation With ARIA's Jacques Carolan
The UK’s Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) just announced their newest programme call for Massively Scalable Neurotechnologies.
The first step of the application is a 3-page Concept Paper due March 17th.
I spoke briefly with Jacques Carolan, Programme Director for Scalable Neural Interfaces at ARIA, to learn more about this new initiative and their broader strategy in catalyzing neurotech innovation over the last two years. What follows is a condensed interview, with some additional q&a for paying members.
Hi Jacques. Congrats on the new programme call. Who is eligible and how can they apply?
Jacques: We are currently accepting concept papers, which are essentially three-page abstracts, and the deadline for that is March 17th. My team and I will review those and either encourage or discourage people from submitting a full application, though anyone can still submit one regardless. Shortly after that, full applications will open, and we’ll do our final reviews.
As for who we’re looking for, there are two broad categories. We definitely want neurotechnologists who are currently building ways to interface with the brain. However, I want this to be understood as broadly as possible. If you look at the pacemaker, its massive scale was driven by the invention of the transistor. So, what new advances could enable a massively scaled approach today?
I think we’ll see huge advances in bioengineering—engineering cells to traverse the periphery, engineering AAVs, or finding new ways to access the brain through the vasculature or CSF. We want people in the engineered biology and hardware spaces who might not traditionally consider themselves neurotechnologists to bring novel solutions to this problem.
This is a £50 million program. Is that the global budget for these grants? What size prizes do you typically award?
Jacques: The entire program is £50 million, which will be deployed over five years. We’ll have an initial three-year test phase, and then we’ll down-select and double down on the most promising projects for the final two years. For the first phase, we’re estimating a budget of around £2 million to £4 million per project team.
What does “massively scalable neurotechnologies” mean to you, beyond just reaching more people?
Jacques: When I think about ARIA, I ask where we can best address problems. There are many systemic challenges to getting technologies out—like regulation or policy—but ARIA is built to develop technologies and capabilities. I see two main axes for getting tech into the world. The first is efficacy. Some technologies, like hip and knee surgeries, have a high burden to administer but are highly efficacious, so they succeed. On the other axis, we have the burden of deployment. Technologies like SSRIs are relatively easy to prescribe and deploy, even with mixed efficacy.
Our first program focuses heavily on efficacy, asking if we can build better, more personalized circuit-level interventions for brain disorders. This new program, however, targets the scalability side. The vision is to figure out if we can avoid the transcranial procedures that are typically required for advanced neurotechnologies—whether that’s brain-computer interfaces, deep brain stimulators, or even cell and gene therapies.
What have you learned from the first program cohort* and from your groundbreaking work building this operation over the last two years?
Jacques: The past two years have taught me that there are so many entrepreneurial people—in the broadest sense—who want to solve incredibly hard, important problems. They don’t necessarily want to go into traditional academia or established industry; they want to build their own things and spin them out. What ARIA does is activate that talent and point it toward a critical white space. We give people the permission to dream big.
We’re even seeing momentum from folks we aren’t able to fund, which shows we’re capturing a really unique time in the space. The technology is changing so fast, and with all the momentum in BCI companies right now, it’s clear to me that the delivery challenge is going to be the main bottleneck to deploying these solutions and helping people at scale.
* Spanning areas of 1) Non-invasive Interfaces, 2) Remote Interfaces, 3) Biological Interfaces, and 4) Future Adoption, with 4, 5, 4, and 6 teams selected for awards, respectively. See the programme page for more detail.
In addition to your programme calls, please tell us about the broader ecosystem initiatives that ARIA supports.
Jacques: A major focus for us is translation—how do we actually get these technologies into the world? We need a talent pipeline for the next generation of neurotechnologists. To that end, we partnered with the University of Cambridge to set up Cambridge NeuroWorks, which is essentially a neurotech accelerator that is based in the UK but open to international applicants.
We’re also tackling the regulatory piece. We’ve partnered with the University of Newcastle and the UK regulator, the MHRA, to second people into the MHRA specifically to work on neurotechnology regulation and develop UK guidance. These initiatives might not seem directly related to technology development, but they act as massive levers for the broader field.
Cambridge NeuroWorks: The new £multi-million UK-based neurotech accelerator/fellowship program created in partnership with ARIA and the University of Cambridge. Cambridge NeuroWorks Website
Regulatory Innovation (MHRA): Newcastle University and ARIA’s partnership with the UK’s MHRA to pioneer comprehensive guidance for neurotechnology regulation. Newcastle University Announcement
Additional Links and Resources
Massively Scalable Neurotechnologies (Programme Overview): ARIA Official Page, Call for Proposals guide
Concept Paper Submission (TA1): Due March 17th. Application Details via Innovate UK
Precision Neurotechnologies (The First Programme): ARIA Official Page
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Members can read on to gain additional insight into ARIA’s selection criteria, Jacques’ outlook on de-risking, investing, and neurotechnology futures.
