Precision Neurotechnologies Programme by ARIA (UK Advanced Research and Invention Agency): status and timeline

Precision Neurotechnologies Programme

Enable treatment of Alzheimer's, epilepsy, addiction and depression via circuit-level brain modulation.

ResearchStage 1 of 5

Active since 2024 with 19 teams; early evidence of cell-type-specific modulation.

Updated 2024Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

No announced next step

Translation to clinicScaling from animal proof-of-concept to human clinical deployment.
Precision without invasionDeep brain stimulation lacks cell-type precision; non-invasive lacks resolution.

Physics of non-invasive stimulationSound and magnetic fields scatter through tissue, limiting spatial resolution vs implants.
Brain immune responseImplants trigger scarring and signal degradation, a challenge for long-term use.
Circuit mapping difficultyBrain billions of neurons in millions of circuits; targeting specific circuits is extremely hard.

3 parts

Team mix

Universities, startup companies and non-profit R&D organizations with diverse expertise.

Circuit focus

Focus on identifying and targeting specific circuits that drive disorders.

Hybrid interfaces

Teams combine hardware with bioinspired and engineered biological interfaces.

Spec	Precision Neurotechnologies Programme
Total funding	£69M^R (reported)
Programme duration	Four years^R (reported)
Number of funded teams	19^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

1 update

The team behind Precision Neurotechnologies Programme

ARIA (UK Advanced Research and Invention Agency)

UK government neurotech, brain interfaces

ARIA is the UK's government agency for high-risk, high-reward science research, established 2023.

ARIA is a £800M+ UK fund for moonshot research, modeled after DARPA.
Precision Neurotechnologies commits £69M over four years for 19 teams on circuit-level brain interfaces.
Targets Alzheimer's, epilepsy, addiction and depression via cell-type-specific brain modulation.

Founded: 20233 yrs
Headquarters: United Kingdom
Status: Government
Valuation: government
Raised: $1.2B1 round
Last round: 2025-2029 spending review · $1.2B2025
Works in: NeurotechNon-invasive
Coverage: 1 program · 1 updatelatest 1 Jan 2024checked 11 Oct
Lead investors: DSIT
Partners: Motif NeurotechMintNeuroUniversity of OxfordRice University
People: Kathleen FisherCEOJacques CarolanDirector, Precision Neurotechnologies

Spec

Precision Neurotechnologies Programme

Total funding

£69M^R (reported)

Programme duration

Four years^R (reported)

Number of funded teams

19^R (reported)