Military regenerative medicine

Abstract

Amid the rising toll of war-associated deaths and injuries and escalating conflicts between countries, there is a strong need to manage complex battlefield injuries by preventing further deterioration and accelerating the repair of damaged tissues. Global military powers, including the USA and China, have established scientific facilities for dedicated research into military regenerative medicine. However, there remains a gap, as most reported medical devices created for tissue repair are unsuitable for use on battlefields. In this perspective, we argue why now is the golden time for countries to invest in military regenerative medicine, and we propose the use of RIPE (Restorative, Individualized, Portable and Emergency) criteria to optimize technologies for tackling battlefield injuries, including rapid hemostasis, immobilization, tissue repair, and functional reconstruction. Similar to technologies such as blood plasma transfusion and portable ultrasound, which were originally developed through military investment and later found highly valuable for civilian medical use, timely investment in military regenerative medicine, as we argue, will have a positive spillover impact on public healthcare programs in the future.