# Arc Institute

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American biomedical research nonprofit

Arc Institute Arc Research Institute Arc Institute headquarters Established 2021; 5 years ago (2021) Research type Biomedical research Budget $82.8 million (2024)[1] Executive Director Silvana Konermann Faculty 14 Location Stanford Research Park, Palo Alto, California, 94304, U.S. 37°24′31″N 122°08′55″W / 37.4085°N 122.1485°W / 37.4085; -122.1485 Affiliations Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UCSF Website arcinstitute.org

**Arc Institute** is a nonprofit biomedical [research organization](/source/Research_organization) based in [Palo Alto, California](/source/Palo_Alto%2C_California).[1][2] It was co-founded by [Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University) biochemistry professor [Silvana Konermann](/source/Silvana_Konermann), [UC Berkeley](/source/UC_Berkeley) bioengineering professor [Patrick Hsu](/source/Patrick_Hsu), and [Stripe](/source/Stripe%2C_Inc.) CEO [Patrick Collison](/source/Patrick_Collison), with Konermann as its inaugural executive director.[3][4] The institute operates in partnership with three [San Francisco Bay Area](/source/San_Francisco_Bay_Area) [research universities](/source/Research_universities)—[Stanford](/source/Stanford), [UC Berkeley](/source/UC_Berkeley), and [UCSF](/source/UCSF).[2]

## History

Arc Institute was founded in 2021 to provide scientists with research opportunities without the need for external grant applications.[4][5] This followed a collaboration between Konermann, Hsu, and Collison on [Fast Grants](/source/Fast_Grants) during the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic).[6]

Arc Institute was launched with initial funding of $650 million.[5] Founding donors include [Ethereum](/source/Ethereum) creator [Vitalik Buterin](/source/Vitalik_Buterin), [Stripe](/source/Stripe%2C_Inc.) co-founders [Patrick Collison](/source/Patrick_Collison) and [John Collison](/source/John_Collison), [angel investor](/source/Angel_investor) [Ron Conway](/source/Ron_Conway), [Color Genomics](/source/Color_Genomics) co-founder Elad Gil, [Cue](/source/Cue_(search_engine)) co-founder [Daniel Gross](/source/Daniel_Gross_(businessman)), [Facebook](/source/Facebook) and [Asana](/source/Asana%2C_Inc.) co-founder [Dustin Moskovitz](/source/Dustin_Moskovitz), [Coefficient Giving](/source/Coefficient_Giving) chair [Cari Tuna](/source/Cari_Tuna), [General Catalyst](/source/General_Catalyst) CEO [Hemant Taneja](/source/Hemant_Taneja), and [Jane Street Capital](/source/Jane_Street_Capital) executives. [Silvana Konermann](/source/Silvana_Konermann) is the executive director, and [Patrick Hsu](/source/Patrick_Hsu) leads the development of research teams focused on technology related to biological research. Both Konermann and Hsu lead research labs in addition to their other roles at the institute.[5][7]

The institute houses laboratories at its facility at [Stanford Research Park](/source/Stanford_Research_Park) and funds projects at partner universities.[8][9][10] [Carolyn Bertozzi](/source/Carolyn_Bertozzi) and [Aviv Regev](/source/Aviv_Regev) serve on its scientific advisory board, and [Nat Friedman](/source/Nat_Friedman), [Reid Hoffman](/source/Reid_Hoffman), and [Meta](/source/Meta_Platforms) Chief Financial Officer Susan Li serve on its board of directors. Dave Burke, former Vice President of Engineering for [Google’s](/source/Google) [Android](/source/Android_(operating_system)) division, was named Chief Technology Officer in 2024.[11] Megan van Overbeek, former Vice President of Preclinical Research at Metagenomi Therapeutics, was named Chief Scientific Officer in 2026.[12]

## Funding structure

Funding focuses on "high risk, high reward" science,[6] with flexible funding modeled after organizations like the [Broad Institute](/source/Broad_Institute),[13] [Howard Hughes Medical Institute](/source/Howard_Hughes_Medical_Institute)[3] and [Chan Zuckerberg Biohub](/source/Chan_Zuckerberg_Biohub).[2][6] The institute's three main funding categories are Core Investigators, Innovation Investigators, and Ignite Awards.[14]

Arc core investigators work within the institute itself, and are given a budget to support a lab of up to 20 people and full funding for eight years of laboratory operations.[9][10] The institute also has technology development centers focusing on [machine learning](/source/Machine_learning), [genome engineering](/source/Genome_engineering), cellular and [animal models](/source/Animal_models) of human disease, and [multiomics](/source/Multiomics).[2][15]

Arc Innovation Investigators receive $1 million over five years, while Ignite Awards grant researchers from the three partner universities $100,000 for one year.[10]

## Research

Arc Institute's stated mission is to "accelerate scientific progress, understand the root causes of complex diseases, and narrow the gap between discoveries and impact on patients". The institute brings together researchers from varied backgrounds to facilitate collaboration between biologists doing experimental research and researchers creating new technology.[9][2]

In 2024, [Patrick Hsu](/source/Patrick_Hsu) and collaborators developed a new method of [genetic engineering](/source/Genetic_engineering) called "bridge RNA" with potential advantages in simplicity and precision compared to [CRISPR](/source/CRISPR).[16][17][15][18] The research was described in two papers published back-to-back in [*Nature*](/source/Nature_(journal)) in 2024.[19][20][15]

Also in 2024, Arc researchers led by Hsu and Brian Hie released a [large language model](/source/Large_language_model) trained on biological sequence data.[21][22] Called "Evo", the model uses [deep learning](/source/Deep_learning) to interpret DNA sequences at single-[nucleotide](/source/Nucleotide) resolution and design biological systems such as [CRISPR](/source/CRISPR)-Cas complexes and [transposable elements](/source/Transposable_element).[23] Evo was published in [*Science*](/source/Science_(journal))[24][25] and received recognition from *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* in its 2024 "Good Tech Awards".[26]

In January 2025, Arc announced a partnership with [Nvidia](/source/Nvidia) to integrate biology and machine learning.[27] In April 2025, Arc announced a partnership with [10x Genomics](/source/10x_Genomics) and [Ultima Genomics](/source/Ultima_Genomics) to create a curated atlas of [single-cell](/source/Single-cell_sequencing) data for building [virtual cell](/source/Virtual_cell) models.[28]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pp_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pp_1-1) ["Arc Research Institute"](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/871920284). *ProPublica*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Piper_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Piper_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Piper_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Piper_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Piper_2-4) Piper, Kelsey (18 December 2021). ["Can a new approach to funding scientific research unlock innovation?"](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2021/12/18/22838746/biomedicine-science-grants-arc-institute). *vox.com*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Economist2023_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Economist2023_3-1) ["New ways to pay for research could boost scientific progress"](https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2023/11/15/new-ways-to-pay-for-research-could-boost-scientific-progress). [The Economist](/source/The_Economist). 15 November 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Thompson_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Thompson_4-1) Thompson, Derek (20 January 2022). ["Silicon Valley's New Obsession"](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/01/scientific-funding-is-broken-can-silicon-valley-fix-it/621295/). *The Atlantic*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Leuty_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Leuty_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Leuty_5-2) Leuty, Ron (15 December 2021). ["New institute will fund Stanford, Berkeley, UCSF scientists targeting complex human diseases"](https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2021/12/15/arc-institute-stripe-michael-moritz-moskovitz.html). San Francisco Business Times.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Keown_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Keown_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Keown_6-2) Keown, Alex (16 December 2021). ["New Non-Profit Snags Three Big Name Research Partnerships"](https://www.biospace.com/non-profit-arc-institute-provides-funding-for-bay-area-researchers-to-explore-human-disease). *biospace.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Konermann Lab - Arc Institute"](https://arcinstitute.org/labs/konermannlab). *arcinstitute.org*. Retrieved 2025-04-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ford_8-0)** Ford, Celia (12 September 2024). ["Science has a short-term memory problem"](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/370681/science-research-grants-scientific-progress-academia-slow-funding). *vox.com*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-philanthropy2021_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-philanthropy2021_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-philanthropy2021_9-2) ["Arc Institute launched with $650 million for complex diseases research"](https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/arc-institute-launched-with-650-million-for-complex-diseases-research). *philanthropynewsdigest.org*. 17 December 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Leuty2_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Leuty2_10-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Leuty2_10-2) Leuty, Ron (20 September 2023). ["Backed by tech entrepreneurs, Arc Institute adds to its scientific ranks"](https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2023/09/20/arc-institute-uc-berkeley-stanford-ucsf-ai.html). San Francisco Business Times.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Fortune_11-0)** ["JPMorgan CISO says three trends play a role in how he protects the banking giant"](https://fortune.com/2024/11/06/jpmorgan-ciso-says-three-trends-play-a-role-in-how-he-protects-the-banking-giant/). [Fortune](/source/Fortune_(magazine)). 6 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CSO_12-0)** ["Arc Institute Welcomes Metagenomi's Megan van Overbeek as First Chief Scientific Officer"](https://insights.parksquare.com/post/102lzmm/arc-institute-welcomes-metagenomis-megan-van-overbeek-as-first-chief-scientific). *Park Square*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Johnson_13-0)** Johnson, Stephen (14 August 2024). ["How Arc Institute is bringing science into the century of biology"](https://www.freethink.com/science/arc-institute-science-century-of-biology). *freethink.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Stanford Medicine scientists win Arc Institute awards"](https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2023/09/arc-institute-awards.html). *News Center*. 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2025-04-30.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Peel_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Peel_15-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Peel_15-2) Peel, Michael (26 June 2024). ["Gene editing breakthrough promises to boost fight against disease"](https://www.ft.com/content/b1b45c7e-b5e6-4f83-82b9-f1c32675674f). *Financial Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Floersh_16-0)** Floersh, Helen (1 July 2024). ["No CRISPR, no problem: 'Jumping gene' system could be bridge to complex gene editing"](https://www.fiercebiotech.com/research/no-crispr-no-problem-jumping-gene-system-could-be-bridge-complex-gene-editing). *fiercebiotech.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Adkins_17-0)** Adkins, Jessica (4 July 2024). ["A "Word Processor" for Genes – Scientists Unveil Fundamentally New Mechanism for Biological Programming"](https://scitechdaily.com/a-word-processor-for-genes-scientists-unveil-fundamentally-new-mechanism-for-biological-programming/). *scitechdaily.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Grinstein_18-0)** Grinstein, Jonathan (26 June 2024). ["Come Together: Bridge RNAs Close the Gap to Genome Design"](https://www.genengnews.com/gen-edge/come-together-bridge-rnas-close-the-gap-to-genome-design/). *genengnews.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Durrant, Matthew; Perry, Nicholas; Pai, James (27 June 2024). ["Bridge RNAs direct programmable recombination of target and donor DNA"](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07552-4). *nature*. **630** (8018).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Hiraizumi, Masahiro; Perry, Nicholas; Durrant, Matthew (27 June 2024). ["Structural mechanism of bridge RNA-guided recombination"](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07570-2). *nature*. **630** (8018).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Molteni_21-0)** Molteni, Megan (17 May 2024). ["ChatGPT for genomes: introducing a CRISPR-designing generative AI"](https://www.statnews.com/2024/05/17/arc-institute-generative-ai-crispr/). *statnews.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Atkinson_22-0)** Atkinson, Sophie (18 November 2024). ["Arc Institute releases ChatGPT for DNA named Evo"](https://readwrite.com/arc-institute-releases-chatgpt-for-dna-named-evo/). *readwrite.com*.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Chakraverty_23-0)** Chakraverty, Anita (15 November 2024). ["Evo AI Model Decodes and Engineers Genetic Sequences, acting as Biological "Rosetta Stone""](https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/precision-medicine/evo-ai-model-decodes-and-engineers-genetic-sequences-acting-as-biological-rosetta-stone/). *insideprecisionmedicine.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Science2024_24-0)** Nguyen, Eric; Poli, Michael; Durrant, Matthew (15 November 2024). ["Sequence modeling and design from molecular to genome scale with Evo"](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado9336). *Science*. **386** (6723).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Yirka_25-0)** Yirka, Bob (15 November 2024). ["Evo—an AI-based model for deciphering and designing genetic sequences"](https://phys.org/news/2024-11-evo-ai-based-deciphering-genetic.html#google_vignette). *phys.org*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Roose, Kevin (30 December 2024). ["The 2024 Good Tech Awards"](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/technology/good-tech-awards.html). [New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Philippidis, Alex (15 January 2025). ["Illumina, Nvidia Launch AI-Based Genomics Partnership"](https://www.genengnews.com/topics/artificial-intelligence/illumina-nvidia-launch-ai-based-genomics-partnership/). *genengnews.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["Arc Institute Teams with 10x and Ultima Genomics to Evolve Virtual Cell Atlas"](https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/informatics/arc-institute-teams-with-10x-and-ultima-genomics-to-evolve-virtual-cell-atlas/).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arc Institute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_Institute) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_Institute?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.