Arc Institute

What it reported doing in 2024

- Core Investigators (which include the following labs) are provided with no-strings-attached, multi-year funding as well as cutting-edge scientific and infrastructure support to enable high-risk, high-reward science. They are innovative pioneers enabled to pursue their very best ideas. The Gilbert lab has an expertise in synthetic biology, functional genomics and cancer biology. We build CRISPR epigenetic editing tools to turn genes on and off and to perturb gene regulatory elements. We are developing CRISPR functional genomics approaches to map individual genes or sets of genes that regulate phenotypes of interest in vitro and in vivo. We are focused on utilizing our expertise to tackle big problems in deadly human cancers such as metastasis and drug resistance. The Hsu Lab works at the intersection of synthetic biology and genomics to invent new biotechnologies for improving human health. The Konermann lab develops and applies next-generation functional genomics to understand the cellular and molecular pathways underlying the neuronal system and neurodegenerative disease, with the long-term goal of developing rationally targeted therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders. The Li Lab combines chemistry, biochemistry, immunology, and physiology to uncover basic mechanisms in innate immunity and, in parallel, develop therapeutic hypotheses and lead molecules. Innate immune pathways as the first line of defense against pathogens present many exciting opportunities for scientists from many disciplines. These pathways are a rich source of novel chemistry: they involve diverse molecular patterns in pathogens, little-explored second messengers, and drugs with poorly understood mechanism. Activation of innate immunity is a proven therapeutic strategy for vaccination, viral infection, and cancer, while inhibition is a strategy for treating autoimmune diseases and neurodegeneration. To date, however, most modulators of innate immunity are broad, non-specific, and poorly characterized, such as killed bacteria, alum crystals, and steroids. The Li lab seeks to improve understanding of these pathways and facilitate the development of more precise drugs for preventing or treating specific diseases. The Horns Lab creates and uses new technologies to understand and manipulate cells. We aim to discover the fundamental principles governing how cells and tissues operate, and to harness these insights to improve human health. Our work unites molecular engineering, synthetic biology, and genomics to answer questions and solve problems in immunology, neuroscience, cancer, and aging. The Goodarzi Lab combines modern experimental and computational technologies to understand complex human diseases at a molecular level. We are predominantly focused on metastatic progression in multiple cancers and neurodegenerative diseases as the biggest challenges to human health in the 21st century. - Technology Development Centers As biomedical research has become more advanced, it has become more dependent on complicated tooling that is difficult or impossible for any single lab to pursue today. Arc Technology Centers are focused on advancing and distributing key biomedical technologies within the institute that require high capital scale, targeted expertise, and systematic innovation. Our Technology Centers provide long-term career options for Arc scientists beyond their training period. By enabling competitive compensation relative to the biotech and tech industries (such as for research scientists and computer programmers), our goal is to expand the ecosystem of available career paths in research and maintain continuity in critical technical know-how. We have 5 staffed Technology Centers focused on 1. Cellular Models 2. Genome Engineering 3. Mammalian Models 4. Multi-omics 5. Computational biology - Translational Programs Making an impact on complex diseases requires new fundamental biological insights into disease mechanisms and new technologies that can ta

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 53.1%; rating input score 53
• Program expense ratio: 77.4%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 32.3%; rating input score 93; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.23; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.45; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.6%; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 59.1% per year; rating input score 100; 99th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 38.6% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 20.7% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings