Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute: R&D, training, crisis response. Accomplishments, opportunities and policy questions

Abstract

The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) mission is to preserve and protect the health and performance of U.S. military personnel through research and training that advance understanding of the effects of ionizing radiation. This mission encompasses (1) basic and applied research to identify and develop measures to prevent, assess and treat radiation injury; (2) education and training to maintain a pool of qualified radiation biologists, health care providers, disaster preparedness personnel and operational planners; and (3) maintenance of an advisory team ready to be activated in the event of radiological crises and consequence management missions. Products resulting from the AFRRI program will prevent, mitigate and treat radiation injury and provide guidance for medical management. These products will expand the ability of warfighters to accomplish missions and will improve morale. AFRRI is funded to identify and develop products to the point where they are poised for advanced development. A number of countermeasure candidates have been developed with efficacies that would save tens of thousands of people in a mass casualty scenario. Examples of current research findings are: (1) Effect of radiation quality on countermeasure efficacy; (2) Accelerated hematopoietic syndrome in a minipig model; (3) Roles of REDD1 and miRNA30c in radiation injury and (4) multiparameter biodosimetry in a nonhuman primate model. Policy questions include the timing of administration relative to irradiation, the possibility of far-forward fielding, the administration route, and whether the priority is mass casualty or small-scale scenarios (which affects the availability of medical care). The views expressed do not necessarily represent the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, or the Department of Defense.