DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office is calling on the scientific and innovation community to help push the frontiers of protein sequencing—an emerging pillar of biodefense, health surveillance, and synthetic biology detection. On June 30, 2025, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will host an unclassified hybrid Industry Day to introduce the PROtein SEquencing (PROSE) program, a 36-month initiative aiming to create scalable, high-accuracy molecular readers for real-time biosurveillance and biothreat detection.
A Technological Moonshot for Molecular Readers
At the heart of PROSE is a call for innovation in both hardware and software integration. The program will invest in developing novel read-element designs integrated with microsystem architectures, capable of identifying and sequencing amino acids—what DARPA calls “letters”—with greater than 99% accuracy over protein lengths of at least 300 amino acids. Importantly, PROSE will also support the scalability of these platforms, targeting throughput benchmarks of 10¹⁰ letters per day by the program’s end.
The PROSE program is designed to address a pressing national security need: rapid and accurate de novo protein sequencing. Unlike traditional methods that rely on genomic data, PROSE envisions tools that can identify unknown proteins and their post-translational modifications directly—unlocking capabilities for detecting engineered or emerging biological threats, including potential biowarfare agents. The technology would also aid forensic investigations, support health monitoring for deployed personnel, and identify novel bioengineered organisms in global environments.
Phase 1 of the program (15 months) will focus on demonstrating early read-element designs and algorithmic models to predict accuracy and performance. Phase 2 (21 months) will emphasize system integration, showcasing complex sequencing demonstrations and potentially hosting challenge events to reward exceptional progress.
Proposals must justify how their technology can scale beyond the benchmark metrics and should address the ability to handle 100+ unique amino acids and modifications—a bold expansion of the typical biological “alphabet.” Successful proposers will likely form interdisciplinary teams spanning protein biochemistry, microfabrication, signal processing, and AI-driven algorithm development.
Why This Matters: Public Health, National Interest, and Economic Strength
Public-private innovation efforts like DARPA’s PROSE program are critical not only for national defense but also for broader public health security and economic competitiveness. By accelerating the development of advanced tools to detect unknown and engineered biological threats, programs like PROSE help ensure early warning capabilities for future pandemics, biosurveillance of emerging diseases, and forensic response to biological incidents. These investments lay the foundation for rapid, scalable technologies that protect both civilian populations and military personnel. Moreover, they stimulate U.S. economic growth by catalyzing new markets, supporting high-tech jobs, and fostering commercialization of next-generation biosensing platforms. In an era of increasing synthetic biology capabilities and transnational health risks, this kind of cross-sector collaboration represents a strategic investment in the resilience of national and global health systems—and in the strength of the U.S. innovation economy.
What to Expect at Industry Day
The June 30th PROSE Industry Day will be held at DARPA’s headquarters in Arlington, VA, and streamed via Microsoft Teams. The agenda includes:
- Program briefings by DARPA leadership, including Program Manager Dr. John Hoffman
- Lightning rounds and breakout sessions for potential proposers
- Poster sessions and team-building opportunities (in-person only)
Lightning rounds and poster presentations offer registered attendees the chance to showcase their capabilities and initiate collaboration. Each organization may submit one 3-minute presentation or one poster—subject to space limits and early submission deadlines.
Participation is limited to registered attendees. Virtual slots are capped at 300, and in-person attendance at 176, with no on-site registration. All foreign nationals and permanent residents must comply with visitor security requirements, including submission of appropriate DARPA forms by June 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Key Considerations for Prospective Proposers
Based on the amended Special Notice (DARPA-SN-25-82), potential proposers should consider the following points:
- Preliminary Demonstration Requirements: At least seven amino acids identified in sequence with moderate accuracy, or 20 amino acids/modifications identified in isolation with high accuracy.
- Commercialization Strategy: All proposers must provide a detailed plan for how their prototypes will be commercialized at the end of the program.
- Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI): Teams must be capable of handling and protecting CUI.
- Global Eligibility: U.S. and non-U.S. organizations are eligible to apply, pending compliance with visitor and information security protocols.
- DARPAConnect: Newcomers to DARPA are encouraged to leverage DARPAConnect, an initiative offering guidance and resources for engaging with DARPA programs.
How to Get Involved
To register for the Industry Day, visit the event website. Registration closes June 23, 2025, or when capacity is reached.
Attendees interested in presenting posters or participating in lightning rounds must submit materials by June 26, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET, to PROSE@darpa.mil. For access to teaming profiles, contact lists, or to submit a one-page capability profile, email the same address by June 30, 2025.
To read the full amended Special Notice (DARPA-SN-25-82) including submission details, visit SAM.gov.