USSOCOM BAA

archived

A. Research Areas of Interest SOF medical personnel place a premium on medical equipment that is small, lightweight, ruggedized, and designed for operation in extreme environments. The equipment must be easy to use, require minimum maintenance, and have low power consumption. Drugs and biologics should not require refrigeration or other special handling. All materiel and related techniques must be simple and effective. Research projects may apply existing scientific and technical knowledge for which concept and/or patient care efficacy have already been demonstrated to meet SOF requirements. 1. Damage Control Resuscitation SOF medical personnel require capabilities for far-forward medical care to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with major battlefield wounds and injuries. The primary emphasis is to research, apply and/or develop medical techniques and materiel (medical devices, drugs, and biologics) for early intervention in life-threatening battle injuries when MEDEVAC is not possible. The four project areas under “Damage Control Resuscitation” to which SOF will give highest consideration are: a. Global Treatment Strategies. The proposed project must research, apply and/or develop effective treatment strategies that address the following elements: hypotensive resuscitation, optimal fluid(s), uncomplicated shock, non-compressible hemorrhaging and traumatic brain injuries. These strategies must be optimized for patients in austere, far-forward areas who must be treated for extended periods (days, not hours). b. Vital Signs Monitoring. The proposed project must research, apply and/or develop novel concepts for miniaturized and ruggedized vital signs monitors (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, capnography, and pulse oximetry) that capture data for later retrieval. Concepts should include an open architecture to allow for easier integration with other systems and applications. c. Analgesia. The proposed project must research, apply and/or develop novel analgesia that provide broad toxicity spectrum, easy administration in the field, tolerance of extreme environments, and effectiveness at the point of injury for a prolonged period of field care (days, not hours) and does not sensitize the patient to topical analgesia. Maximum analgesia with minimal sedation is preferred. d. Far Forward Blood. The proposed project must research novel strategies to increase the ease, efficacy, and safety of blood transfusion (i.e. person to person, pre-hospital blood banking) forward of normal logistics support; e.g., evaluating blood for type/cross matching and for the presence of pathogens. 2. Environment-Specific Medicine SOF personnel must often operate for extended periods of time in environments that expose them to extremes in altitude, temperature, humidity, wind, etc. In addition, the environment may be compromised due to chemical, biological, and radiological contamination. The primary emphasis of this research area is to research, apply and develop techniques and materiel (medical devices, drugs, and biologics) to ensure sustained human performance and effectiveness while operating in harsh environmental conditions and/or wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. The three project areas under “Environment-Specific Medicine” to which SOF will give highest consideration are: a. Optimal Acclimatization Strategy. The proposed project must research, apply and/or develop novel approaches that provide rapid and sustainable human acclimatization for extremes in temperature, altitude and time change (circadian acclimatization). b. High Altitude Pulmonary Edema/High Altitude Cerebral Edema. The proposed project must research, apply and/or develop novel treatment approaches, either pharmaceutical interventions or alternative treatments, for high altitude pulmonary edema and /or high altitude cerebral edema. c. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Rapid Diagnostics. The proposed project must research and apply and/or develop novel approaches that will diagnose human exposure to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives in near real time. 3. Force Protection a. SOF personnel must be protected from extreme environments. The specific sub-area of interest under “Force Health Protection” is rapid field diagnostics for infectious diseases, toxic industrial compounds, and/or toxic industrial materials. 4. Canine Medicine SOF personnel rely on the capabilities of their canines. The primary emphasis of this research area is to explore alternatives and/or new approaches to sustain and enhance SOF canine performance in combat. SOF medical personnel place a premium on canine-specific approaches that are effective in extreme environments and do not require significant logistical support (i.e. maximize use of current SOF medic materiel). The six project areas under “Canine Medicine” to which SOF will give highest consideration are: a. Environmental Extremes. Research to develop novel approaches/treatment concepts for SOF canines that address optimal acclimatization strategies, saltwater toxicity, and/or exposure to hot and cold extremes. Proposals may address pharmaceutical interventions and alternative treatments for High Altitude Pulmonary Edema/High Altitude Cerebral Edema. b. Sensory Optimization and Protection. Research to develop novel approaches/treatments for SOF canines that ensures optimum olfactory and visual performance during combat operations. Research to develop novel approaches/treatment for SOF canines that ensures optimum visual and hearing protection during combat operations. c. Optimal Nutrition and Hydration. Research to develop optimal nutrition and hydration strategies for canines throughout the spectrum of warfare in diverse environments to ensure sustained performance. d. Optimal Anesthesia Protocol. Research to develop optimal anesthesia protocols for the routine and emergency field treatment of canines in diverse environments utilizing available SOF medic analgesic. e. Optimal Trauma Resuscitation Strategy. Research to develop novel approaches/treatments to support optimal trauma resuscitation strategies for canines in diverse environments, especially blast injuries. f. Pre and Post Trauma Training / Behavioral Issues. Research to develop novel approaches/treatment for SOF canines to maintain and restore performance in canines that present behavior and/or post-trauma issues.

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