Expeditionary Medicine

What Is It?

Expeditionary Medicine is an evidence-based science and technology program that encompasses casualty care medical technologies to save lives on the battlefield. 

How Does It Work? 

Products developed as part of the program are designed to treat injuries accounting for the greatest morbidity and mortality in naval forces. Focus areas include hemorrhage control, traumatic brain injury, low-volume resuscitation, enhanced diagnostic devices, new antibiotics to defeat “super bugs,” wound healing and automated patient care.

What Will It Accomplish?

Advances derived from the Expeditionary Medicine program will save lives and accelerate restoration of the warfighter. Products will also support the Navy’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Expeditionary Medicine effort, a subset of ONR’s Casualty Care and Management Program, supports Navy and Marine Corps combat forces by developing products to both prevent and treat injuries. Products must be safe and effective, but also small, lightweight and rugged to lighten the load of naval combat forces.

Among its goals, the Casualty Care and Management Program’s strives to equip the first responder, forward surgical teams and patient transport with advanced, life-saving capabilities.

The program is developing:

  • Dried-plasma and platelet products to control bleeding; new ways to resuscitate casualties using minimal or no fluids; and, beginning in October 2010, a multifunctional blood substitute and products to make transfusions safer by identifying infected blood
  • Technologies to identify any risks related to repeat exposure to blast energy
  • Medical advances to restore “sight” to the blind and accelerate wound healing
  • An automated critical care system, to be implemented by October 2011

Primary customers for medical products developed under the program include the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Marine Corps Systems Command, Naval Sea Systems Command and Naval Air Systems Command.

Research Challenges and Opportunities:

  • Control of internal bleeding without surgical access
  • Prevention and treatment of trauma-induced coagulation
  • Control of severe pain without impairing warfighter performance
  • Data collection at echelon/role 1 (point of wounding)
  • Casualty evacuation by unmanned aerial vehicle

Point of Contact:

Dr. Michael Given
(703) 696-4055
michael.given@navy.mil

* Some pages on this website provide links which require Adobe Reader to view.