About AFIRM

With the increase in complex, life-threatening injuries among men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, regenerative medicine has become a priority for military medical research and development. The need for advanced technologies is now more pressing than ever as service members become victims to severe blast injuries, often losing limbs and suffering severe burns.

The use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq and Afghanistan has caused a marked increase in severe blast trauma, now responsible for approximately 75 percent of all injuries, according to the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. Because of better body armor, quicker evacuation from the battlefield and advanced medical care, many of the injured survive. But, they may face the challenge of overcoming severe limb, head, face and burn injuries that can take years to treat and usually result in significant lifelong impairment.

The AFIRM teams, working in research laboratories and clinics across the country, are advancing biological therapies, tissue and biomaterials engineering, and advanced transplantation methods to address the medical needs of our servicemen and women.