Precision Mitochondria
Backed by at least £55m, this programme sits within the Bioenergetic Engineering opportunity space and aims to create a foundational toolkit for engineering the mitochondrial genome in vivo.
Concept papers (submit by 27 October)
This programme will fund the creation of a versatile toolkit to empower researchers with new capabilities. This toolkit will enable the delivery of nucleic acids into the mitochondrial matrix, the expression of functional proteins from the introduced genetic code, and the maintenance of engineered genomes through cellular replication. Additionally, it will allow for the transfer of either the engineered mitochondria or the engineering toolkit itself into various cells and tissues.
Success in this programme would provide a catalysing set of tools for future mitochondrial engineering efforts, promising a significant impact. It would transform research by enabling definitive experiments that move the field from documenting correlation to establishing causation. This advancement would also create new therapies, opening a new domain of intervention for conditions that current medicines and gene therapies cannot reach, from rare monogenic disorders to the chronic diseases of ageing. Ultimately, this would foster a new UK-led industry in organelle engineering with broad applications in health, bioenergy, and agriculture.
Technical focus areas
We are funding ambitious projects across five interconnected Technical Areas (TAs).
TA1: Deliver – Focused on the delivery of nucleic acid payloads across the mitochondrial double membrane into the matrix.
TA2: Express – Focused on mitochondrial genome engineering and the expression of functional proteins or RNAs.
TA3: Maintain – Focused on ensuring the persistence, replication, and functionality of engineered mtDNA.
TA4: Transfer – Focused on achieving in vivo mitochondrial engineering via transplantation or direct toolkit delivery.
TA5: Standardisation, Translation, and Reproducibility – Focused on providing replication, standardisation, and translation capacity across the programme.
Who should apply?
We invite applications from interdisciplinary teams that bridge fields such as mitochondrial biology, synthetic biology, virology, and nanotechnology. We welcome proposals from scientists and engineers at universities, research institutes, startups, and established companies, as well as from individuals.
We encourage collaborative teams, but solo applicants are also invited to apply and we can assist in forming teams. Applicants can be based in the UK or abroad.
Join a team
Our teaming tool is live, allowing applicants to find complementary expertise that address multiple TAs. After a quick registration, you can browse other researchers and request an introduction from the ARIA team to explore potential collaborations.
Register for the teaming platform
How to apply
The first stage of the application process is the submission of a concept paper (3-page maximum), which allows applicants to receive feedback from the programme team.
Concept paper submission deadline: 27 October 2025
Full proposal window opening: 01 December 2025
Full proposal submission deadline: 15 January 2026
Resources
Call for proposals
Call for proposals (accessible version)
Watch the FAQ webinar
Read the FAQs
Accessibility support
Clarification questions
If you have any questions, please use the chat function on this page for the quickest response – you'll find the icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. It can guide you to the right information or connect you with the ARIA team if needed. We’ll update this page regularly with questions and answers.
Nb: clarification questions that need to be reviewed by the ARIA team should be submitted via the chat function no later than 4 days prior to the relevant deadline date. Clarification questions received after this date will not be reviewed.