Arc Institute

The Arc Institute was launched in December 2021 with a $650 million commitment from its founders, including Patrick Collison, John Collison, and Vitalik Buterin, to support long-term, high-risk research that traditional funding cycles often overlook.¹ Its mission is to catalyze breakthroughs in biology and medicine by providing scientists with stable, multi-year funding and access to cutting-edge technology, freeing them from the constant pressure of grant writing.

The institute is structured as a nonprofit that partners with nearby universities, allowing researchers to maintain academic affiliations while working on Arc-funded projects. This model aims to foster collaboration and reduce administrative burdens, enabling scientists to focus on fundamental questions about disease mechanisms and potential therapies.

Arc's research spans several areas, including genomics, immunology, neuroscience, and AI-driven drug discovery. One of its flagship initiatives is the Arc Core, a team of staff scientists who provide expertise and infrastructure for collaborative projects. The institute also runs the Arc Fellowship program, which supports early-career scientists with independent funding and mentorship.

In 2023, Arc launched the Arc Institute for AI in Biology, a dedicated effort to apply artificial intelligence to biological problems, such as protein structure prediction and drug design. This initiative reflects the institute's belief that AI will be transformative in understanding biological complexity and accelerating therapeutic development.

Arc has already contributed to significant scientific advances. In 2022, researchers affiliated with Arc published a landmark study on the evolution of protein function using deep learning, which was featured in Science.² The institute has also partnered with the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub to develop new tools for single-cell analysis, aiming to map cellular diversity in health and disease.

Collaboration is central to Arc's model: its scientists work closely with colleagues at Stanford, UC Berkeley, and UCSF, and the institute has established joint research centers with these universities. These partnerships have led to new insights into immune cell signaling and neurological disorders, with several clinical trials in early stages.

Beyond its headline projects, Arc has quietly funded unconventional research, such as a project on the role of transposable elements in aging and a study on the potential of engineered bacteriophages to treat antibiotic-resistant infections.³ The institute also hosts an annual 'Arc Symposium' that brings together scientists from diverse fields to spark cross-disciplinary ideas.

Arc's funding model is distinctive: it does not accept government grants, relying instead on private philanthropy and returns from its endowment. This independence allows it to pivot quickly to emerging opportunities, but it also means that its research is not subject to public oversight, a point of debate among ethicists.

Nonprofit

An organization that reinvests its surplus revenue to achieve its mission rather than distributing it to shareholders.

Curiosity-driven research

Research motivated by intellectual curiosity rather than immediate practical application.

Grant writing

The process of applying for funding from government agencies or foundations.