Medical Technology (AFRRI)
Abstract
For the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences/Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (USUHS/AFRRI), is a unique Department of Defense asset, responsible for preserving and protecting the health and performance of U.S. military personnel operating in potential radiologically contaminated multi-domain conventional or hybrid battle spaces and urban environments; through research, education, and operational training that advance understanding of the effects of ionizing radiation in line with the 21st century dynamic threat landscape and national security threats posed by non-state actors, hostile state actors, and near-peer adversaries, as well as providing rapidly deployable radiation medicine expertise in response to a radiological or nuclear event domestically or abroad. The uniqueness of USUHS/AFRRI comes from operating and maintaining state-of-the-art radiation facilities and dosimetry systems to support military relevant radiobiology research. These facilities enable researchers to conduct a wide range of radiobiology experiments in order to investigate militarily-relevant scenarios, and better understand radiation effects and potential mitigation strategies. A team of scientist, physicists, engineers, operators and technicians use proven and traceable dosimetry systems (e.g., ionization chambers, radiochromic film, thermoluminescent dosimeters) and consensus protocols to characterize radiation fields. Due to these facilities our researchers are able to experiment with photons (?-rays) which are intended to simulate fallout environments and are delivered by two cobalt-60 facilities - the high-level cobalt facility (HLCF), and for lower (chronic) doses and dose rates, the low-level cobalt facility (LLCF). These type of radiation sources are used for acute and chronic studies of materials, biologic specimens, and small and large animals. The LLCF also provides to our scientist low-dose rate gamma rays to simulate chronic exposure to low absorbed doses. Therefore, it also supports research focused on late or delayed radiation effects in biological specimens. USUHS/AFRRI researchers are also able to use Mixed-radiation fields (photons and neutrons) which are available from USUHS/AFRRI’s Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics (TRIGA) reactor. The reactor is operated in either steady-state or pulsed mode to simulate a wide range of prompt exposure scenarios on a nuclear battlefield. The USUHS/AFRRI’s TRIGA is the only one dedicated to military radiobiology research. The reactor produces a controlled, self-sustaining fission chain reaction in the reactor core which, in addition to the fuel elements and control rods (containing boron carbide), which includes a neutron start-up source (americium/beryllium). It is suspended under 4.9 m of water within a pool (an effective radiation shield) in a carriage assembly that allows movement of the core between two exposure rooms for experimental work with large-animal or other studies. The advantages of such a movable reactor core are that the quantity and character of the radiation that reaches the exposure facilities can be controlled, and more than one exposure facility can be used during reactor operations. Our state-of-the-art radiation facilities are also able to provide a wide range of photon and electron irradiations for partial- and whole-body geometries by using a linear accelerator (LINAC) and a small animal radiation research platform (SARRP) providing a range of radiation types, energies, field sizes and dose rates and is extensively used to support standard cell configurations (i.e., 6-, 24- and 96-well plates), and targeted partial body irradiations of mice, minipigs, and nonhuman-primates (NHP) animal models. AFRRI’s LINAC is used to produce, monitor, control and form photon or electron beams to the specified target. Whole-body irradiations are also possible depending on the animal size and desired dose rate. An Xstrahl SARRP facility is capable of operating at 220 kVp and 13 mA yielding a dose rate at the isocenter of approximately 2.6 Gy/min. Onboard portal camera and cone beam CT imaging systems are used to ensure precise dose delivery. Lung- and gut-only irradiation protocols are approved and have been extensively used to support radiation countermeasure development in the mouse model. Other imaging support is provided by a Philips Brilliance computed tomography (CT) big bore scanner. Some features of the scanner include an 85-cm bore size to accommodate larger research subjects, 60-cm true scan field of view and 16-slices per revolution. The above radiation sources and generators are used to support USUHS/AFRRI’s current research focus areas which we will address in the following section. Our scientific research goals includes maintaining a pool of highly qualified radiation biologists, and basic and applied research in identification and early development of measures to prevent, assess, and treat radiation injury. USUHS/AFRRI scientists conduct and publish research critical to the Department of Defense for force heath protection and also contribute to the health and well-being of the population at large. USUHS/AFRRI research thrusts include development of diagnosis of radiation induced injury (biodosimetry), internalized radionuclides (internal contamination) and radiation countermeasures. Research findings are mainly focused to advance the development and to produce the following: (1) To establish processes to permit rapid assessment of radiation exposed specimens using novel triage protocols; (2) To developed novel technologies to minimized the use of animal models in the study of radiation effects; (3) To investigate the overall radiation effect by internal contamination in the microbiome and anatomical tissue; (4) To find novel biomarkers, late effects and immunosuppression of radiation injury that can quantitate effects on combat performance decrements; (4) To identify novel therapeutic strategies that will support military operations within a nuclear or radiological environment minimizing ground troops short and long term adverse risk.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- 0602787DHA_2_0130_PB_2023
- Change Summary Explanation
- Service Agency Name
- Defense Health Agency
Entities
Organizations
- Defense Health Agency
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