READINESS & RESILIENCE

BACKGROUND

We conduct operationally relevant research to support modern expeditionary and special forces and traditional ground forces by focusing on enhancing the readiness and resilience of our warfighters. We have seven teams that conduct both individual studies and integrative research to optimize performance and build resilience.

Applied Translational Exercise and Metabolic Physiology Team (ATEAM)
Biobehavioral Sciences Laboratory (BSL)
Expeditionary Cognitive Sciences (ExCS)
Food Utilization and Energy Laboratory (FUEL)
Physical and Cognitive Operational Research Environment (PhyCORE) Laboratory
Sleep, Tactical Efficiency, and Endurance Laboratory (STEEL)
Thermal Physiology Laboratory

Researchers who support our Readiness & Resilience portfolio have expertise in biomechanics, physiology, neuroscience, psychology, nutrition, and hardware and software engineering.

VALUE

Our readiness and resilience research optimizes human performance by developing strategies to increase physical and mental resilience, enhancing physical and mental skills training, defining the physical and cognitive limits of healthy warfighters, and investigating individual genetic characteristics that may mediate stress effects.

GOALS

Increase understanding of warfighter physiology
Support performance tracking and mental skills training
Identify factors that influence and mitigate chronic stress exposure
Improve warfighter physical and cognitive readiness and resilience
Define the physical and cognitive limits of healthy warfighters
Preserve warfighter performance by investigating the individual differences in genetic predisposition, hormone profiles, physical fitness, cardiac modulation, dietary habits, and coping skills that may buffer the effects of stress

CAPABILITIES

State-of-the-art 3-bedroom sleep physiology laboratory that includes an ecologically valid shipboard berthing compartment
Physiological and cognitive research using the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) to provide an IVRE that mirrors real-world situations and scenarios
Evaluation of the operational effects of fatigue and countermeasures
Field research and physiological monitoring using experimental and commercial off-the-shelf wearables
Personal protective equipment (PPE) testing and evaluation
Cognitive function, skills, and performance assessments
Physical fitness and body composition standards research
Analysis of urine, saliva, and blood biomarkers
Evaluation of nutritional approaches to optimize warfighter performance
Effects of the physiological and cognitive effects of extreme environments (e.g., cold, heat, altitude) on performance

RESEARCH

Study of the impact of intense exercise on hormone levels and inflammatory response
Electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement to identify objective neuromarkers of performance
Static and dynamic validation of mobile EEG systems
Evaluation of body armor systems on the biomechanics of walking and marksmanship in infantry Marines
Characterization of physiological and physical changes in special operators while training and operating undersea
Assessment of mind and body in special forces operators moving through close quarters combat training

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General Navy Medical Inquiries (to Bureau of Medicine and Surgery): usn.ncr.bumedfchva.list.bumed---pao@health.mil