The Big Question

What if we could restore function to the millions of Americans with permanent brain damage to the neocortex? 

The Problem

The neocortex makes up the surface of the brain and is responsible for sensory perception, motor control, and higher order cognition. It is the largest part of the brain, making it most susceptible to damage from stroke, degeneration, or traumatic injury. Most patients require daily lifelong care and treatments like physical, or speech therapy are costly and, at best, offer only partial improvement. Individuals with permanent damage rely on caregivers when their independence is lost. No technology exists to repair damaged tissue and fully restore lost function.

The Solution

The Functional Repair of Neocortical Tissue (FRONT) program aims to restore brain tissue, enabling individuals with brain damage to recover cognitive functions. The program seeks to develop methods to make non-specialized cells form into normal tissue. After these cells are grafted, FRONT will measure how well they integrate with the surrounding healthy neocortex tissue, proper layered structure of normal cortical tissue, and functional recovery. The goal of the program is to alleviate the personal and financial burdens of previously ‘permanent’ brain damage. 

Why ARPA-H 

By bringing together neuroscientists, cellular biologists, and regulators, ARPA-H seeks to advance the cell-based therapy industry and simultaneously lower health care costs.