# ARPA-H Awards $54.5M mRNA Manufacturing Contract

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has awarded Waterfall Scientific, a startup incubated by the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a contract valued up to **$54.5 million** in 2026. This contract funds the development of a continuous-flow cell-free mRNA manufacturing and characterization platform aimed at revolutionizing mRNA production for personalized medicine. The project leverages technology originating from UMass Amherst and benefits from IALS's support in bridging academic research to commercial applications.

- **Why this matters:** This contract signals significant federal investment in advanced mRNA manufacturing technologies, highlighting opportunities for contractors specializing in biomanufacturing and personalized medicine platforms.
- The involvement of ARPA-H underscores the federal focus on accelerating health innovation through cutting-edge biotechnology procurement.
- Organizations engaged in mRNA therapeutics and manufacturing should evaluate partnership or subcontracting opportunities with Waterfall Scientific and related consortium members.
- The Massachusetts region remains a critical hub for mRNA technology development, but competitive pressures from international players like China are increasing, emphasizing the strategic importance of domestic innovation and supply chain resilience.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Healthcare
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** September 16, 2026

### Government Entities
- Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS)
- University of Massachusetts Amherst

### Vendors
- Waterfall Scientific (prime contractor)

### Key Quotes
> Our continuous-flow platform, developed from technology invented at UMass Amherst, drastically reduces manufacturing footprints while ensuring ultra-high purity.
> — Inna Shcherbakova, CEO, Waterfall Scientific

> Right now, Massachusetts is the is the world’s epicenter of mRNA therapeutics, but China is rapidly gaining ground.
> — Craig Martin, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst

### Sources
- [Waterfall Scientific Lands Government Contract Worth up to $54.5 Million | Institute for Applied Life Sciences](https://www.umass.edu/ials/waterfall-scientific-lands-government-contract-worth-545-million) - UMass Amherst