Siemens Healthineers Receives ARPA-H Funding to Develop Remote Endovascular Robotics

Aug. 20, 2026 — The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has awarded Siemens Healthineers up to $31.1 million over five years to accelerate the development of autonomous remote endovascular robotics¹. The technology is designed to enable robots to perform long-distance treatment of acute ischemic stroke through mechanical thrombectomy without direct human input². Siemens Healthineers will contribute $5.4 million as a cost share over the course of the project, bringing the total combined investment in autonomous remote endovascular robotics development to as much as $36.5 million.

Mechanical thrombectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that removes a blood clot from a blocked blood vessel in the brain to restore blood flow following an acute ischemic stroke. When performed promptly, it can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of long-term disability.

Today, the procedure is almost exclusively available in comprehensive stroke centers — which means that large parts of the population are excluded from access. In the U.S., more than half of the population lives more than an hour from a thrombectomy-capable clinic, and only an estimated 12% of 335,000 eligible stroke patients receive mechanical thrombectomy each year². Because treatment is highly time-sensitive, every delay increases the risk of long-term disability or death, driving up healthcare costs.

Remote Endovascular Robotics

“Early access to the right treatment makes all the difference for stroke patients. By integrating robotics, imaging, devices, and artificial intelligence, we want to transform the way endovascular therapy is delivered, towards greater accessibility and precision across a broader range of care settings,” said Philipp Fischer, head of Advanced Therapies at Siemens Healthineers. “The ARPA-H investment is a big step in advancing autonomous remote endovascular robotics for the benefit of patients and communities around the world.”

Under the award, Stryker is acting as a sub-awardee, further advancing the strategic partnership established by the two companies in 2025 to accelerate innovation in robotic neurovascular interventions³. Jim Marucci, president of Stryker’s Neurovascular division, said: “This funding represents an important milestone in our collaboration with Siemens Healthineers and reinforces our shared commitment to advancing neurovascular care through innovation. Together, we're developing technologies designed to help overcome barriers to treatment and bring advanced stroke care closer to more patients and communities.”

The funding is part of the ARPA-H Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) program, led by ARPA-H Program Manager Ileana Hancu, PhD, and in line with the Siemens Healthineers vision to enable healthcare professionals to innovate in personalized care, achieve operational excellence, and transform the system of care.

References

1. Autonomous remote endovascular robotics for acute stroke treatment is under development and not commercially available. Its future availability cannot be ensured.

2. https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/air (accessed on July 27, 2026).

3. The Robotic neurovascular system is under development and not commercially available. Its future availability cannot be ensured.