Scarlet Therapeutics secures DARPA agreement for smart red blood cells

Scarlet Therapeutics has entered into an agreement with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop smart red blood cells (SRBCs) through a program valued at up to $14 million. The project aims to advance red blood cell technology from passive carriers of therapeutic proteins to engineered cells equipped with biological circuits capable of sensing, deciding, and acting in response to physiological changes.

Scarlet will lead an international multidisciplinary consortium to explore how these cells can detect stimuli, such as hypoxia (low oxygen), and adjust their activity accordingly. One primary focus involves developing cells that can activate systems to remove toxic metabolites, such as ammonia or oxalate, from the bloodstream.

The consortium includes the University of Bristol, where the foundational technology originated, Northwestern University, and Unicorn Biotechnologies. The program seeks to establish a laboratory proof-of-concept demonstrating that engineered cells can maintain fundamental red blood cell properties while performing controlled biological responses.