Biologics
Biologics include vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, cell and gene therapies, and engineered scaffolds. They provide targeted immune modulation, pathogen neutralization, and tissue repair. Military applications require accelerated translation, scalable GMP production, thermostable formulations, and delivery systems compatible with prolonged and distributed care.
Technical Challenges
Manufacturing scale-up and GMP compliance for rapid surge production
Cold-chain dependence and formulation instability in austere settings
Heterogeneous host responses and immunogenicity (including pre-existing immunity)
Delivery and dosing constraints for cell and gene therapies in field care
Biofilm, polymicrobial wounds, and antimicrobial resistance complicating efficacy
Emerging Opportunities
Point-of-care or mobile manufacturing for on-demand biologics
Thermostable, lyophilized formulations for extended field storage
Validated biomarkers and correlates of protection for accelerated trials
Minimally invasive, field-deployable delivery platforms for cell therapies
Standardized assays and repositories for military-relevant pathogen strains
Current and Emerging Technologies in Biologics
mRNA and viral-vector vaccines
Rapidly programmable platforms enabling fast design of vaccines and immunotherapies for emerging threats; advancing thermostability and low-dose delivery to suit forward-deployed forces.
Monoclonal and polyclonal antibody therapeutics
Neutralizing antibodies, engineered Fc variants, and bispecifics for passive protection, toxin neutralization, and adjunctive therapy in sepsis or envenomation scenarios.
Cell and gene therapies & regenerative biologics
Autologous and allogeneic cell therapies (eg, MSCs, engineered immune cells), gene-editing for tissue repair, and biologic scaffolds to restore function after blast or polytrauma.
Recombinant proteins, enzymes, and biologic wound dressings
Growth factors, clotting factors, and enzymatic debridement agents integrated into advanced dressings and scaffolds to accelerate hemostasis and tissue regeneration in austere care.
Point-of-care manufacturing and synthetic biology
Modular, closed-system bioreactors, on-demand cell-free expression, and engineered microbes for decentralized production and rapid response to supply disruptions.
Importance to Military Medicine
Rapid countermeasures for infectious threats
Vaccines and antibody therapies protect force health and sustain operations during outbreaks and biodefense incidents.
Regeneration and functional recovery after trauma
Cell and tissue biologics can restore tissue, reduce long-term disability, and shorten rehabilitation timelines for blast and polytrauma casualties.
Prolonged and distributed care capability
Stabilized biologics and portable production enable effective treatment when evacuation is delayed and resources are limited.
Force readiness and deterrence
Biologics support vaccination programs, rapid therapeutics, and recovery strategies that preserve combat effectiveness across deployments.
Alignment with the MTEC Mission
Advances in biologics directly support MTEC’s mission to accelerate military-relevant medical technologies into use by enabling public–private collaboration, bridging prototype to GMP, and de‑risking late-stage development.
Prioritizes force health protection, regenerative medicine, infectious disease countermeasures, and distributed care—areas central to MTEC program portfolios.
Dual-Use (Military + Civilian) Applications
Dual-use benefits: biologics developed for Warfighters often translate to civilian vaccines, therapies for trauma and chronic wounds, and commercializable manufacturing platforms that improve public health preparedness.
Shared clinical trials, regulatory pathways, and manufacturing investments lower cost and speed adoption across military and civilian healthcare systems.
Point-of-care production and thermostable formats benefit disaster response, rural health, and global vaccine distribution as well as deployed forces.
Explore MTEC Members with Biologics Capabilities
MTEC members span academia, industry, and government labs with expertise in GMP scale-up, regulatory strategy, clinical trial design, and field validation. Members provide manufacturing platforms, biologic assay development, animal models for polytrauma and infection, and translational program management.
Explore member profiles to identify partners for accelerated development, point-of-care production pilots, and clinical studies that close gaps between laboratory promise and combat-ready biologic solutions.
203 Members with Biologics capabilities.
The University of Texas System is a leading public university system in the United States, dedicated to improving lives through education, health care, and research. With over 256,000 students enrolled across 14 institutions, the UT System is committed to providing affordable access to higher education and producing a skilled workforce to drive Texas's economy.

The Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) is a member-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the bioeconomy of the United States. Its mission encompasses enhancing manufacturing, healthcare, and education and workforce development, aiming to create a scalable and effective manufacturing ecosystem for engineered cells, tissues, and organs.

Georgia Southern University is a vibrant institution with over 26,100 students across three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, and Hinesville. The university offers 132 degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels, emphasizing student success, community impact, and research excellence. With a commitment to inclusivity and engagement, Georgia Southern fosters a supportive environment for diverse learners, including military-affiliated and adult students. The university is dedicated to transforming lives through education and community engagement, aligning its programs with regional needs. Additionally, Georgia Southern provides accelerated pathways for students to fast-track their master's degrees, enhancing educational opportunities. The university also emphasizes career readiness and public impact research, preparing students for successful careers and contributing to community development.

Nuclera develops automated benchtop platforms and integrated systems for rapid protein expression, optimization, and purification, utilizing cell-free synthesis, digital microfluidics, and software-driven workflows. Their technology enables miniaturized and scalable protein prototyping—including challenging targets such as membrane proteins—directly at the lab bench. Nuclera serves academic and industrial researchers, focusing on reducing turnaround time for functional protein access and streamlining screening and production. The company has secured significant funding to enable broad commercialization, expanded their leadership team to support scale-up, and continues to drive advancements in drug discovery, proteomics, and experimental automation.

Stoic Bio is revolutionizing the cell culture media industry by integrating sustainability into its manufacturing processes. The company focuses on accelerating research and development while minimizing environmental impact through innovative solutions like the Krakatoa benchtop media maker. This approach not only enhances the efficiency of cell culture media production but also significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste, aligning with Stoic Bio's mission to create a cleaner and greener future.

FiteBac Technology/FiteBac Pharma's K21 uniquely targets the underlying disease state, given that most diseases involve microbial-associated inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. FiteBac Technology innovations stem from the work of numerous international academic research scientists. FiteBac Pharma K21 is the blockbuster antimicrobial small molecule designed to modulate biological, immunological, and metabolic systems for treating a wide range of infectious and inflammatory diseases. This patented drug substance has demonstrated the ability to safely eliminate bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, enhance innate immunity, induce mitophagy while improving mitochondrial and cellular metabolism, accelerate wound healing, and even promote the development of zebrafish and chickens, leading to increased adult mass. Rigorous research from Dr. Bhupesh Prusty's laboratory and Dr Christopher Rongo's laboratory is focused on various aspects of mitochondrial remodeling and reprograming, as well as mitochondrial-to-nuclear signaling with K21.

Humanetics Corporation is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, focused on developing and commercializing products to enhance human health and wellbeing. Founded in 1988, the company specializes in radiation modulators, adjunctive oncology therapies, and pulmonary protective therapies, particularly for COVID-19. Humanetics is known for its lead drug candidate, BIO 300, which is being developed as a radioprotectant for military and civilian use, as well as a treatment to improve outcomes in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. The company is actively engaged in research programs for non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, and head and neck cancers.

Qidni Labs is a NATO DIANA company recognized by Fast Company as a 2025 World Changing Idea. The company has developed a portable, nearly waterless hemodialysis system that will make treatment accessible for over 10 million patients every year.

VirTech Bio is an early-stage biotechnology company based in Natick, Massachusetts, focused on developing a human-derived hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) for use as a temporary blood substitute in trauma and transplantation. The company leverages expertise in hemoglobin polymerization to address critical needs in emergency medicine and organ preservation, with a pipeline also targeting veterinary and research applications. Process innovations allow scalable and contract-based manufacturing, supported by significant non-dilutive funding from the US Department of Defense and private investment.

MTF Biologics is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to saving and healing lives by honoring the gift of tissue donation. They process tissue grafts from human donors for a wide range of clinical applications, positively impacting lives globally. MTF Biologics integrates service, science, and advocacy to improve healthcare and wellbeing, while also supporting research and innovation in tissue transplantation.

Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing pathogen-specific bacteriophage therapeutics to combat antibiotic-resistant and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. With a focus on addressing the global antibiotic resistance crisis, Armata leverages its proprietary bacteriophage-based technology to develop high-impact, best-in-class phage therapeutics. The company operates from a 56,000 square foot facility in Los Angeles, California, equipped for phage product development from bench to clinic. Armata's team of microbiologists and scientists work on discovering natural phages and enhancing them through synthetic biology and engineering to create tailored drug products for clinical trials.

Anavatos Bio is an early-stage biotechnology start-up based in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to revolutionizing biologics manufacturing. The company is driven by a team of experienced scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs passionate about increasing access to protein therapeutics. Their mission is to enable faster, more efficient, and cost-effective production of biologics at smaller scales, supporting early-phase research and advancing a new medical paradigm that delivers greater value to patients.

Brimrose Technology Corporation (BTC) is dedicated to transforming promising new technologies into real products that enhance lives. With a strong focus on research and development, BTC collaborates with major U.S. agencies to create innovative solutions in various fields, including defense, medical diagnostics, and environmental applications. The company has a proven track record of securing significant funding and contracts, demonstrating its commitment to advancing technology for critical applications.

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research, teaching, and community engagement. As a premier public research university, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a catalyst for socioeconomic development, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

Auburn University Research & Economic Development is dedicated to advancing research and economic growth through a collaborative effort among its various colleges and departments. The organization focuses on fostering innovation, supporting faculty and student research, and facilitating partnerships with industry and government to address societal challenges and enhance the quality of life. Recent initiatives include the launch of the Team Science Series to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of the Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station to address coastal environmental challenges.
Seek Labs is a biotechnology company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and delivering universal healthcare solutions. The company specializes in next-generation point-of-care molecular diagnostics and programmable CRISPR-based therapeutics, aiming to bridge the gap between disease outbreak and intervention. Powered by its proprietary AI discovery engine, BioSeeker™, Seek Labs is building a modular, full-stack system that enables rapid response to emerging pathogens, scalable precision treatments, and accessible diagnostics. The company is committed to global health innovation, sustainability, and community engagement, and is a proud member of Utah's BioHive life sciences ecosystem. Seek Labs' mission is to empower individuals with healthcare solutions tailored to their specific needs, revolutionizing the detection and treatment of diseases for both human and animal health.

Arizona State University
ASU Crosscutting Technologies to Enhance Military Medical Readiness and Resilience
Dr. Rachel Cassalia leads MTEC-supported efforts at ASU to shift military health from reactive care to proactive readiness through data-driven prevention.
University of Pittsburgh
Topical Metformin Lotion for Tendinopathy Prevention
University of Pittsburgh study shows topical metformin prevents overuse tendon injury. This work was sponsored through MTEC project 22-02-MPAI-014.
Theradaptive
Theradaptive’s RESTORE Trial Initiation for OsteoAdapt™ DE
Theradaptive launches RESTORE Phase I/II trial of OsteoAdapt™ DE for faster, precision bone healing in craniofacial injuries. MTEC-funded study targets improved recovery for military and civilian patients.
Altec
Autonomous Rehabilitation Device for Improved Recovery in Warfighters
The OSCIR platform—developed by Altec Inc in collaboration with the Naval Health Research Center—is bringing clinical-grade, real-time movement analysis to the front lines. Funded under MTEC-22-02-MPAI