ARPA-H HEARING (Hearing Enhancement through Artificially Intelligent Neurotechnology)
An ARPA-H research program building a minimally invasive, brain-driven hearing system that works with the auditory cortex.
Overview
HEARING (Hearing Enhancement through Artificially Intelligent Neurotechnology) is an ARPA-H program that treats hearing loss as a neurological condition of the auditory cortex rather than only an ear problem. More than 70 million Americans live with hearing loss, and today's best hearing aids and implants often fail in noisy settings because they react to external sound, not to what the listener wants to hear.
The program advances three technical areas: intracortical device(s), dynamic sound modulation, and auditory read-and-write algorithms. Together they aim to adjust sound to the listener's intent, reduce background noise in real time, fill in missing sound information, and build the first minimally invasive, brain-driven hearing system.
ARPA-H expects teaming across neuroscience, otology, biomedical engineering, microelectronics, machine learning, neuromodulation, clinical audiology and regulatory science, and runs a teaming page for proposers.
Who it is for
Research teams that can deliver in the program's technical areas; ARPA-H anticipates multidisciplinary teams. Full eligibility rules are in the solicitation on SAM.gov.
Check if you are eligible
Check your eligibility for ARPA-H HEARING (Hearing Enhancement through Artificially Intelligent Neurotechnology)Admissions and application
Two-step process: a required solution summary (due June 29, 2026, 2:00 PM ET), then a full proposal (due August 14, 2026, 2:00 PM ET) for proposers who were encouraged, submitted through the ARPA-H Solutions site. Evaluation criteria are in the SAM.gov solicitation.
Benefits
- ARPA-H research funding for selected performer teams.
- Work across the program's three technical areas with ARPA-H program management.
- Teaming support through ARPA-H's teaming page.
Timeline
- Solution summaries due June 29, 2026.
- Full proposals due August 14, 2026.
- ARPA-H notes that dates are estimates and subject to change.
How to go about it
- Read what it asks for
Who can apply, how people get in and whether it is open right now.
- Have something to show
Programs pick people whose work they can already point to. Put yours where it can be found.
- Apply the way the program asks
The program has not published how to apply. Terms and dates change. Check the official page before you act.
What it pays
Research awards to performer teams; amounts are set through the solicitation and are not published on the program page.
Questions about this program
What is ARPA-H HEARING?
An ARPA-H program to build a minimally invasive, brain-driven hearing system that works with the auditory cortex.
What are the technical areas?
Intracortical devices, dynamic sound modulation, and auditory read-and-write algorithms.
When were proposals due?
Solution summaries by June 29, 2026 and full proposals by August 14, 2026 (2:00 PM ET).
Is it still open?
No. The proposal window has closed.
Who should apply?
Multidisciplinary teams across neuroscience, otology, biomedical engineering, microelectronics, ML, neuromodulation, audiology and regulatory science.
Where is the solicitation?
On SAM.gov; submissions go through the ARPA-H Solutions site.
Why does it matter?
Over 70 million Americans have hearing loss, costing more than USD 200 billion a year, and current devices struggle in noise.
Does ARPA-H help with teaming?
Yes. It runs a teaming page where proposers share profiles.
About Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
Grant Maker
U.S. health research agency funding ambitious programs, including organ-chip work in space.
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From public sources
What the sources say about ARPA-H HEARING (Hearing Enhancement through Artificially Intelligent Neurotechnology)
ARPA-H encourages multidisciplinary teams spanning neuroscience, engineering, machine learning, clinical, and regulatory expertise.
Source: ARPA-H HEARING program pageThe published 2026 HEARING proposal deadlines have passed.
Source: ARPA-H HEARING program pageHEARING required a solution summary by June 29 and a full proposal by August 14, 2026.
Source: ARPA-H HEARING program pageThe HEARING solicitation is notice ARPA-H-SOL-26-154 on SAM.gov.
Source: ARPA-H HEARING program pageThe target capabilities include listener-directed sound, real-time noise reduction, and clearer reconstructed speech.
Source: ARPA-H HEARING program pageHEARING combines intracortical devices, dynamic sound modulation, and auditory algorithms.
Source: ARPA-H HEARING program page
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