Likarda-led team gets up to $7.3M from ARPA-H to keep cell therapies stable at room temperature

ARPA-H

A team led by Likarda, one of three selected under ARPA-H's BioStabilization Systems (BoSS) program, has been awarded up to $7.3 million. The Reversible Ambient Biostabilization (RAB) project aims to reduce reliance on cold-chain logistics for cell therapies. Its initial 15-month phase started on September 24, 2026, and the research is early stage.

• Team members include Draper, CaseBioscience, CPSI Biotech, Fresenius Kabi, MiNK Therapeutics and the Spencer Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder.
• The approach combines cell-physiology mechanisms, cell-protective strategies and bioengineering; CaseBioscience contributes clinical media formulation and biopreservation expertise.
• The program aims to produce, store and ship cell-based medicines at room temperature without refrigeration.
• The release reports no data, results or clinical or commercial timelines yet, and the award is 'up to' the stated amount rather than guaranteed.
• Collaborator John Baust notes that past dry-preservation efforts of living cells, pursued for over two decades, have seen limited success.