Regenerative Medicine: Creating the Future for Military Medicine
Abstract
The Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) has been funding and managing research in the area of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering since 2001. Starting with research in understanding the healing and regeneration of bone in murine models, creating gene- and cell-based therapies to improve healing of soft and hard tissue injuries and developing cell sorter technologies, to name a few. Over the years, the number of projects in this area has grown significantly as the number of injuries and in particular, the increasing severity of injuries resulting from the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Thus, military medicine is being challenged from the frontline, looking at how to stabilize and transport the patient quickly without negatively impacting their reconstructive surgeries to rebuilding the injured service member whole again both in appearance and in functional outcome. Due to the complexities of these injuries where large composite tissues are severely damaged and/or missing, development of novel treatment options based on regenerative medicine and tissue engineering concepts is an attractive option compared to the alternatives such as forced amputations due to lack of functional recovery or prosthesis for the resulting amputated limb. In cases of trauma to the face, oftentimes multiple surgeries are required and do not result in pleasing appearance, appropriate plasticity, and/or function. Currently, the Regenerative Medicine portfolio has over 70 unique active projects totaling more than $115M in investments to date and includes almost 20 additional projects, totaling at least $25M in funding that fall under other TATRC portfolios/programs such as Neurotrauma and Nano-Medicine & Biomaterials. Funding and management of these projects have successfully paved the way for many investigators to understand the military challenges in developing innovative medical treatments for traumatic injuries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA549629
Entities
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research and Development Command