Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine
Abstract
The use of improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan has caused a marked increase in severe blast trauma. Due to advances in body armor, quicker evacuation from the battlefield, and advanced medical care, many of the injured survive to face the challenge of overcoming severe limb, head, face, and burn injuries that can take years to treat and usually result in significant lifelong impairment. The burgeoning field of regenerative medicine provides hope for restoring the structure and function of damaged tissues and organs and curing previously untreatable injuries and diseases. The concept of regenerative medicine "in its simplest form" is to replace or regenerate human cells, tissues, or organs to restore or establish normal function. Advanced technologies such as tissue regeneration, bone scaffolding, and stem cell-enabled treatments are needed to revolutionize the clinical rehabilitation of severely injured service members. The Department of Defense established the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM) in 2008 with the mission of developing new products and therapies to treat severe injuries suffered by U.S. service members. This multi-institutional, interdisciplinary network of scientists has been designed to accelerate the delivery of regenerative medicine therapies for severely injured U.S. service members. Centered around well-established, proven research investigators, the AFIRM has been able to expand the rehabilitative medicine knowledge base, develop models of injury, and test advanced technology products.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA517569
Entities
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research and Development Command