Siemens Healthineers announced that the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has awarded it up to $31.1 million to advance development of autonomous endovascular robotics to enable remote treatments.

The funding is part of the ARPA-H program “Autonomous Interventions and Robotics” (AIR) led by program manager Ileana Hancu, Ph.D.

The company will contribute $5.4 million to the project, which aims to enable robotic systems to perform mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke over long distances without direct human control. Siemens noted it has now invested $36.5 million total on autonomous, remotely controlled endovascular robotics.

Only an estimated 12% of the 335,000 U.S. stroke patients eligible for thrombectomy receive the treatment each year, while over half the population lives more than an hour from a hospital capable of performing the procedure. Because treatment is highly time-sensitive, delays can increase the risk of long-term disability or death and drive higher healthcare costs.

“Early access to the right treatment is crucial for stroke patients. By integrating robotics, imaging, medical devices, and artificial intelligence, we aim to transform the way endovascular therapies are delivered—thereby ensuring better access and greater precision across different healthcare settings,” said Philipp Fischer, head of Advanced Therapies at Siemens Healthineers. “The ARPA-H grant is a major step towards advancing autonomous endovascular robotics for remote treatment, which could benefit patients worldwide.”

Stryker Corp. is participating as a project partner, expanding a strategic partnership established with Siemens Healthineers in 2025 to advance robot-assisted neurovascular interventions.

“This funding represents a significant milestone in our collaboration with Siemens Healthineers and underscores our shared commitment to advancing neurovascular care through innovation,” said Jim Marucci, head of Stryker’s Neurovascular business. “Together, we are developing technologies that will overcome barriers to treatment access and make modern stroke care available to more patients in more regions.”

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