Advanced Semiconductor Tech Enables UC San Diego Researchers to Probe Biological Systems in New Ways

The DARPA contract is administered through the agency's Biological Technologies Office (BTO) Expedited Research Implementation and Science (ERIS) program. By creating direct interfaces between biological systems and electronic devices, the project aims to unlock new capabilities for biological sensing, biotechnology development, and human health applications.

“This DARPA contract supports a vision that biology and semiconductors are not separate fields, but complementary technologies. Just as semiconductors transformed how we process information, their integration with biology can create entirely new ways of understanding, measuring, and interacting with biology,” said Aran.

For more than a decade, Aran has led efforts to merge biology with modern electronics, developing technologies that translate biological signals into actionable information. Her research has resulted in numerous patents, high-impact scientific publications, startup companies and partnerships with government agencies and industry leaders. Her laboratory’s innovations span bioelectronics, biosensing, precision medicine and next-generation biotechnology platforms.

The DARPA-supported project originated from Aran’s vision of creating advanced biological-electronic interfaces capable of enabling new forms of biological measurement and analysis. The effort brings together expertise from multiple disciplines while remaining rooted in technologies developed within Aran’s research program.

Collaborators on the project include Neville Bethel, a faculty member in the chemistry and biochemistry department in the UC San Diego School of Physical Sciences, who will contribute specially engineered protein systems for evaluation; and Prabhakar Bandaru, a professor in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, who will support advanced device fabrication and scaling efforts.

“Biology contains an extraordinary amount of information, yet we still lack the tools to access and interpret much of it in real time,” said Aran. “Our goal is to build technologies that allow us to communicate with biology more directly, creating new opportunities in healthcare, biotechnology, national resilience and biosecurity.”

The DARPA-supported project strengthens UC San Diego’s leadership in interdisciplinary research spanning engineering, medicine, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor technologies. The project aligns closely with national priorities to advance biotechnology innovation, strengthen domestic semiconductor capabilities, and develop transformative technologies that enhance both economic competitiveness and national security.

As biology increasingly becomes an engineering discipline, Aran envisions a future where living systems can be measured, understood, and engineered with the same precision that modern electronics brought to computing and communications. The DARPA-supported project represents an important step toward realizing that future.

The DARPA ERIS program was established to identify and accelerate breakthrough technologies with the potential to address critical national security challenges. Through a highly competitive selection process, ERIS supports visionary ideas capable of transforming scientific and technological capabilities across defense and civilian sectors.