Military scientists Wednesday encouraged other researchers to take advantage of the government’s $30 million commitment and collaborate with them on stem cell research.
The appeal came as part of the World Stem Cell Summit 2014 going on in San Antonio this week.
The Dept. of Defense has taken a leading role in researching regenerative medicine over the past 10 years, because today’s war fighters are coming home with more serious wounds than in any previous war.
Lt. Col. Michael Davis with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research in San Antonio said the military has become very good at saving lives – but needs to do more to restore form and function for the long-term.
"And that includes craniofacial and facial region regeneration and reconstruction and the extremities also. These are the vulnerable areas that service members encounter with IED-based warfare and the significant injuries that they suffer," he said.
Davis said the military needs regenerative medicine for complicated wounds such as burns and those where part of the face and mouth are missing.
Physicians appealed for collaboration with the larger research body at the conference, saying teamwork always produces faster advances in medical technology.
They presented ways for academic researchers and others to secure government grants and contracts to forward research for all populations.
