TIGAR Exploratory Topic
Advancing Biopreservation Capabilities for Tissues and Organs to Unlock New Possibilities in Medicine
Technology InteGrator and AcceleratoR (TIGAR) Exploratory Topic
Treatment of many diseases and injuries depend on reliable access to replacement tissues. But today, the access to these resources is limited by the short viability window of donated or engineered tissues. Most organs can only be stored for hours to days, and long-term preservation of complex tissues is currently out of reach. This constraint contributes directly to organ shortages, limits access to care, and slows progress in regenerative medicine.
The Technology Integrator and Accelerator (TIGAR) Exploratory Topic (ET) is an ARPA-H initiative to accelerate research and overcome the current barriers to preserving complex human tissues. TIGAR aims to rapidly evaluate early-stage, high-risk preservation technologies and explore what is possible to stabilize tissues across different temperature ranges, store them for longer periods, and rapidly restore them to a functional state after storage.
TIGAR will test bold ideas and generate proof-of-concept results that can lay the foundation for future breakthroughs in tissue preservation and regenerative medicine.
Exploratory Topics are fast-paced efforts that strategically align with ARPA-H Mission Offices and provide foundational proof of concept for future research. The initiative anticipates progress to be made within 18 months of award and will include two 9-month phases. TIGAR will prioritize non-cryogenic and temperature-flexible preservation approaches and budgets for proposals are not to exceed $2M.
If successful, TIGAR could enable a future where tissues and organs are no longer constrained by time. The exploratory topic aims to accelerate biopreservation research, expand access to organ transplantation, and open new possibilities for repairing the human body.
Solicitation
Notice ID: ARPA-H-SOL-26-144
ARPA-H invites interested parties to review the solicitation, which is posted and maintained on SAM.gov. The solicitation outlines the opportunity and its requirements, key dates and deadlines, submission documents and templates, evaluation criteria for submissions, and information on how to apply.
Key Dates
- Solution Video due: June 8, 2026
A Solution Video submission is required to submit a full proposal. - Full proposal due: August 5, 2026
After submission of a Solution Video, proposers will either be encouraged or discouraged from submission of a full proposal. It is strongly recommended that only proposers who are encouraged to submit a full proposal do so.
Reminder: Dates are estimates and subject to change. Please reference the solicitation for the most up-to-date information.
Ready to apply? To submit, sign-in to the ARPA-H Solutions Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Review responses to common questions about this funding opportunity asked by others in the proposer community.
You can also ask a question.
Informational Webinar
This webinar is an optional event for the potential proposer community and is not intended for patients, patient advocates, media or general interest audiences.
Event date: 1:00PM to 3:00PM ET on May 14, 2026
Event location: Virtual
Details subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, reference the Special Notice (ARPA-H-SN-26-142) on SAM.gov.
An Introduction to TIGAR
Seventeen people will die today waiting for an organ transplant. The waitlist is currently over 100,000 people. But what if we could put an end to the waitlist? TIGAR is an exploratory topic that will rapidly evaluate concepts that can accelerate progress towards long-term banking of complex tissues at practical temperatures. Learn more about this opportunity from Gloria Elliot, Ph.D., ARPA-H Program Manager.