Biological solutions
Life on Earth is, by definition, biological, and protecting it is the ultimate aim of any work in sustainability.
Harnessing the power of biology can help achieve the positive outcomes that the planet and society now require. Humans have long harnessed biological resources to provide for essential needs, like shelter, food, and medicine. Advancements in technology have enabled a new era of synthetic biology, enhancing solutions already found in nature or creating new ones altogether to serve 21st-century challenges. Solutions in this cohort draw upon both natural and synthetic biology to meet humanity's current needs and ensure that the needs of future generations can be sustainably and productively met.
Accelerator contacts
Timothy Bouley
Managing Director
Trevor Cambron
Sustainability Technology and Business Analyst
2026 Request for Proposals
The Sustainability Accelerator is accepting proposals from Stanford faculty in areas of: Biological Solutions, Climate Adaptation, Electricity and Grid Systems, Food and Agriculture, Greenhouse Gas Removal, Industry, Planetary Intelligence and Water.
Timeline
September 23, 2026 - Request for Proposal issued
October 30, 2026, 11:59 pm - Letters of Intent due
November 11, 2026 - Teams invited to submit proposals
December 15, 2026, 11:59 pm - Proposals due
February - March 2027 - Panel review meetings (if required)
By June 2027 - Target start date for projects
Projects
Projects in the biological solutions cohort range in purpose and approach, employing the latest technologies and tools from bioengineering, ecology, and other life science disciplines. Direct and indirect approaches to reducing carbon emissions are targeted to diverse applications in pharmaceuticals, mining, materials, agriculture, and other biologically dependent industries.
Related news
-
Schistosomiasis infects millions of people each year. Researchers at Stanford and in Senegal are working to reduce disease transmission in rice paddies, make food systems more productive and sustainable, and boost local economies – with the help of fish.
-
The chronic disease schistosomiasis wreaks havoc on more than 220 million people around the world. New research shows how introducing fish into rice fields could help reduce disease incidence and poverty in a hot spot for the disease
-
Farmers in Senegal are welcoming fish into their rice paddies. A team supported by the Accelerator hopes the fish will fertilize the crop, serve as a source of food, and eat the snails that carry parasitic worms.
