Biomedical Technology

The Biomedical Technology Program Element (PE 0602115E), managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is focused on applied research to develop advanced medical technologies that enhance warfighter health and performance before, during, and after military operations. The overarching goals are to protect warfighters from emerging biological threats, rapidly identify and develop medical countermeasures, and enable distributed production of effective therapeutics. The program also seeks to improve in-theater care through field-relevant technologies, such as portable diagnostic tools, traumatic brain injury detection and protection, and rapid triage systems. Additionally, the program supports recovery from sustained injuries, including spinal cord injuries, and aims to optimize warfighter readiness through data-driven assessment of physical and cognitive performance.

Rapid Battlefield Triage is a key initiative under this program, aiming to develop field-portable technologies that enable quick and objective triage of battlefield casualties. The program leverages recent advances in biomarker discovery and sensing platforms to optimize allocation of scarce medical resources, especially in scenarios with multiple casualties and limited evacuation options. Planned activities include large-scale field experiments, expansion of trauma signature databases, and development of virtual and real-world testbeds for autonomous triage solutions.

Neurological Assessment and Protection from Brain Injury focuses on transforming detection and prevention strategies for traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly from blast exposure. The program is developing prophylactic countermeasures that prevent severe brain injury by targeting molecular pathways and delivering therapies with high specificity. Efforts include identifying candidate pathways, linking biological events to TBI symptoms, and developing advanced delivery mechanisms for targeted intervention.

GOLDen hour extended EVACuation (GOLDEVAC) is designed to extend the critical window for evacuating injured service members by developing technologies for autonomous patient care and force-multiplying medical systems. The program builds on previous triage technologies and explores compact, autonomous systems for monitoring and supporting patients, as well as methods for assessing care effectiveness in austere environments.

Next-Generation Combat Casualty Care addresses preventable battlefield deaths by developing whole blood substitutes that can be deployed in forward settings. The program investigates the efficacy and safety of new therapeutic formulations, tests stability under operational conditions, and explores scalable manufacturing processes. This research aims to ensure the U.S. can provide advanced care in peer and near-peer conflict scenarios and during disaster response.

Improved Personnel Placement (IPP) seeks to enhance force lethality and resilience by developing assays to assess physical and cognitive states, enabling individualized training and readiness assessments. The program identifies biomarkers linked to military performance and develops sensors to measure these traits, supporting unbiased evaluation and optimization of personnel placement.

Other notable initiatives include the development of minimally invasive, adaptable delivery systems for rapid response to biological threats; exploration of red blood cells as vectors for internal protection; combining drugs and devices to enhance alertness without side effects; and advancing control over gene editing technologies to mitigate national security risks. Additional programs address wound infection monitoring, sleep optimization, spinal cord injury recovery, deployable DNA manufacturing, distributed biotherapeutics production, and forensic threat exposure detection.

Beginning in FY 2026, these efforts will transition to a new program element (PE 0602024E, Warfighting Performance), reflecting a strategic realignment of biomedical research priorities within the Department of Defense.