Generative Optogenetics Proposers Workshop

Background
The Biological Technologies Office (BTO) of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is hosting a Proposer’s Workshop to support an anticipated Program Solicitation for the Generative Optogenetics (GO) program.

The workshop aims to facilitate collaboration and idea exchange among potential proposers, focusing on the development of innovative technologies that enable precise genetic programming using light.

Work Details
The GO program seeks to develop a nucleic acid compiler (NAC) that allows for template-free DNA or RNA synthesis in living cells, controlled by optical inputs.

Proposals must address two primary research objectives:
1. Research Objective 1 (RO1): De Novo Synthesis - Proposals must describe how they will create the NAC capable of synthesizing nucleic acids based on optical signals, addressing challenges such as engineering protein domains, integrating these domains into the NAC, and ensuring stability of NAC-nucleic acid complexes.

2. Research Objective 2 (RO2): Error Mitigation - This optional objective allows teams to propose designs that enhance synthesis fidelity through molecular detection mechanisms to filter out errors in longer sequences. However, all proposals must address RO1; proposals addressing only RO2 will be deemed non-compliant.

Teams are encouraged to leverage existing research on optogenetic domains and nucleic acid polymerases while justifying their approaches to mitigate risks associated with integrating multiple protein functions into a cohesive NAC.

Place of Performance
The workshop will take place in the Greater DC area, with specific venue details to be announced.