Environmental Resilience

Environmental resilience in military medicine integrates diagnostics, materials science, wearable monitoring, and infection control to mitigate heat/cold injury, environmental contamination, and exposure-related morbidity. Solutions enable sustained physiologic function, reduce polytrauma complications, and support prolonged and forward care in austere conditions.

Technical Challenges

  • Thermoregulatory failure: rapid heat injury and hypothermia risk during prolonged operations.

  • Environmental contamination: chemical, particulate, and microbial exposures that complicate wound healing and increase infection risk (including biofilms and AMR).

  • Limited diagnostics and decontamination in austere settings: delayed detection of environmental pathogens and slow remediation.

  • Material and device failure under extreme conditions: PPE, implants, and monitoring systems degrade with temperature, moisture, or particulate exposure.

Emerging Opportunities

  • Portable, rugged diagnostics that detect environmental pathogens/toxins with rapid actionable results.

  • Lightweight, power-efficient thermoregulation and hydration systems suitable for prolonged field care.

  • Antifouling materials and coatings that prevent biofilm formation on wounds and devices in the field.

  • Validated decision-support tools integrating environmental sensing with physiologic monitoring for personalized mitigation.

Current and Emerging Technologies in Environmental Resilience

Wearable physiological and environmental sensors

Multimodal wearables combine core temperature, skin perfusion, humidity, and airborne contaminant sensing to provide early warning of heat strain, cold exposure, or toxic inhalation—enabling preventive interventions during prolonged field care.

Rapid field diagnostics and biosensors

Point-of-care nucleic acid, antigen, and toxin assays designed for environmental samples facilitate immediate identification of contamination, sepsis risk, and AMR organisms to guide decontamination and antibiotic stewardship.

Antimicrobial and antifouling materials

Advanced coatings and biomaterials resist biofilm formation, reduce contamination of dressings and implants, and maintain sterility in dusty, wet, and thermally variable environments.

Portable climate-control and thermoregulation systems

Battery-efficient cooling vests, active warming devices, and microclimate shelters preserve core temperature and reduce incidence of heat illness and hypothermia during delayed evacuation.

Environmental decontamination and filtration

Scalable decon systems, portable HEPA/chemical filtration, and surface sterilization technologies reduce exposure risk in field hospitals, transport platforms, and crowded shelters.

Predictive analytics and decision support

Machine learning models fuse environmental sensor data with physiology to predict heat strain, infection risk, and optimal timelines for evacuation or interventions in distributed care.

Importance to Military Medicine

Sustain combat casualty care and prolonged field care

Mitigates environmental contributors to morbidity (heat stroke, hypothermia, contaminated wounds) that compound polytrauma and complicate resuscitation.

Preserve force readiness

Prevention and early detection of exposure-related illness reduce non-battle attrition and maintain operational tempo.

Enable austere and distributed operations

Resilient systems extend high-quality care into forward, resource-constrained settings where evacuation may be delayed.

Reduce infection burden and AMR risk

Targeted environmental controls and rapid diagnostics limit wound contamination, reduce broad-spectrum antibiotic use, and slow antimicrobial resistance.

Alignment with the MTEC Mission

Directly supports MTEC’s DoD-focused mission by accelerating field-ready medical technologies that protect Warfighters under operational environmental stressors.

Bridges multidisciplinary expertise—materials science, infectious disease, wearable tech, and systems engineering—matching MTEC’s cross-portfolio collaboration model.

Emphasizes rapid transition from prototype to deployment, aligning with MTEC’s priority to accelerate innovations for real-world operational impact.

Supports dual-use benefits that improve civilian disaster response and public health, consistent with MTEC’s civilian-military translational goals.

Dual-Use (Military + Civilian) Applications

Civilian emergency medicine and disaster response benefit from portable decontamination, wearable exposure monitoring, and rapid diagnostics developed for military use.

Occupational health and public safety sectors adopt antifouling materials and environmental filtration to protect workers in extreme or contaminated environments.

Telehealth and decision-support algorithms tuned for austere settings translate to rural and resource-limited civilian care systems.

Dual-use products enhance public-health surge capacity during outbreaks by providing rapid environmental surveillance and containment tools.

Explore MTEC Members with Environmental Resilience Capabilities

MTEC members bring complementary capabilities—clinical trial infrastructure, DoD clinical partnerships, materials and biosensor expertise, and regulatory navigation—to advance environmental resilience solutions from concept to field use.

Explore member profiles to find collaborators with experience in wound care, infectious disease modeling, wearable systems, decontamination platforms, and rapid prototyping to accelerate operational impact.

33 Members with Environmental Resilience capabilities.

Member
GreenLifeTech

GreenLifeTech has developed a safe, non-chemical means of removing oxygen from within a closed container operated at atmospheric pressure (no vacuum). This inert environment allows for the extending the shelf life of perishable material. Initially, the focus was on fresh produce which can have its shelf life extended by up to 3 - 5x, thereby reducing food waste and promoting healthier living. An EPA SBIR phase II contract has already been awarded for implementation of the technology in consumer refrigerators. In addition, the technology is applicable to preserving transfusion blood. NIH and US Army studies have already shown that storing blood in an anaerobic environment improves the quality and extends the shelf life of blood. The GreenLifeTech now makes this cost effective and applicable in the field.

Member
Ethos Solutions LLC

Ethos Solutions specializes in rapid problem solving in dynamic environments through the Ethos IDEALs (Identification, Define, Engagement, Alignment, and Leveraging). Ethos leverages module working groups (or cells) consisting of Subject Matter Expert (SMEs) clinicians, training cadre, warriors, academics, and researchers able to rapidly identify and solve problem sets that require a grounded approach forged in austere and dynamic environments.

Member
cosinuss°

cosinuss° is a medical technology company based in Munich, Germany, that is pioneering an ultralight monitoring solution in Europe for situations and use cases where the currently available monitoring solutions fail. The company specializes in in-ear biosensor technology connected to mobile devices for local application, and/or additional cloud-based analytics, supporting real-time local and remote patient monitoring for medical care in challenging operations, in remote environments, clinical trials, remote patient monitoring, and telemedicine. The solution is currently only available for sale in Europe.

Member
HELM Innovations

HELM Innovations is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business specializing in the integration of science, technology, and programmatic and strategic solutions, primarily for U.S. federal government clients. With over 30 years of experience in national security, systems engineering, and interagency collaboration, the company provides expertise in areas such as complex systems acquisition, R&D, environmental lab testing, crisis response, and leadership development. HELM Innovations is noted for applying advanced business models, fostering cross-disciplinary teamwork, and supporting rapid, effective decision-making in complex environments.

Member
Exponent

Exponent is a multidisciplinary science and engineering consulting firm serving sectors including healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and consumer products. From medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and supplements to digital health and wearables, we deliver rigorous science that quantifies impacts on human health. Exponent helps you push the envelope on the development, deployment, safety, and effectiveness of cutting-edge drugs, devices, and diagnostics — concomitantly balancing benefits and risks. Count on our multidisciplinary, data-driven, evidence-based assessments to give you clarity on your most complex product needs and challenges. With lives on the line, innovations that support healthcare demand the highest levels of scientific rigor. Whether you’re developing a novel drug, a sturdier stent, or a faster flu test, you need clear answers to complex questions, quickly. Exponent supports our life sciences clients across the total product lifecycle by solving critical design, regulatory, safety, and market access challenges. We can collaborate with you throughout your journey, helping you navigate risks and opportunities — and optimize outcomes — with science-based strategies and specialized expertise.

Member
Kromek Group plc

Kromek Group plc develops advanced detection technologies for radiological, nuclear, and biological threats using Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) solid-state detectors. The company offers manufacturing and R&D for high-resolution gamma and neutron detectors, networked and wearable monitoring devices, and automated pathogen detection platforms. Its solutions serve the civil nuclear, medical, environmental, defense, and public health sectors worldwide, enhancing safety, operational efficiency, and health security.

Member
Draper

Draper is an independent nonprofit engineering innovation company with a legacy spanning over 90 years, dedicated to delivering transformative solutions for national security, prosperity, and global challenges. Renowned for its pioneering work in guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) systems, Draper partners with government, industry, and academia to engineer advanced technologies in space, defense, biotechnology, and electronic systems. The company leverages multidisciplinary expertise, digital engineering, and a collaborative approach to provide field-ready prototypes, mission-critical systems, and innovative research. Draper’s mission is to ensure the nation's security and prosperity by delivering sustainable, cutting-edge solutions that address the toughest problems of today and tomorrow, while fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. Draper also invests in the next generation of innovators through robust educational programs, including internships, co-ops, and the Draper Scholars Program, integrating academic research with real-world problem-solving.

Member
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is a nonprofit research and development organization that provides independent, premier services to government and industry clients. Founded in 1947, SwRI is committed to advancing science and technology to benefit humanity, focusing on innovative solutions that improve human health and safety. With a diverse range of technical divisions, SwRI addresses complex challenges in various fields including mechanical engineering, materials, aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and more.

Member
TIAG

TIAG is an innovative technology company providing strategic, transformational solutions to private industry and across the Department of Defense. With a focus on agility and ingenuity, TIAG addresses complex challenges through a range of services including cloud migration, cybersecurity, data analytics, and human-centered design. The company prides itself on its commitment to excellence and its ability to deliver results that exceed client expectations.

Member
RelīOx Corporation

ReliOx Corporation is a U.S.-based advanced materials and medical technology company with a clean oxidation platform for on-demand generation of pH-neutral aqueous chlorine dioxide. The ReliOx platform enables safe, controlled oxidation at the point of use without acids, electricity, or hazardous intermediates—addressing long-standing limitations that have historically prevented chlorine dioxide from being used routinely in medical and operational environments. ReliOx directly supports the important core objectives aligned with MTEC members: improving trauma care, reducing infection risk, enabling care in austere and resource-constrained settings, and accelerating transition of dual-use technologies from non-regulated markets into regulated medical and defense applications. The platform’s defining feature is not a new chemical agent, but a novel generation method that produces true chlorine dioxide only at the moment of use, in a neutral pH aqueous form compatible with tissue, metals, polymers, elastomers, and sensitive electronics. ReliOx is advancing an initial wound cleansing and irrigation use case that aligns closely with military and emergency medicine needs, including contaminated wounds, blast injuries, and prolonged field care. The system’s on-demand architecture eliminates the need to store reactive disinfectants, reduces logistical burden, and supports distributed medical operations, a priority across DoD, BARDA, and ONR programs. This makes the platform particularly relevant for battlefield medicine, forward surgical teams, and humanitarian or disaster response scenarios. In parallel, ReliOx operates VetiOx, a veterinary-focused pathway that applies the same platform to animal wound care (including equine). This strategy generates early operational data and clinician familiarity while remaining aligned with long-term human medical translation—an approach consistent with MTEC’s emphasis on de-risking technologies prior to advanced development. The ReliOx platform is inherently dual-use. All commercial, veterinary, food safety, and medical applications share the same resin-based generation mechanism, enabling efficient manufacturing, rapid scaling, and consistent safety characteristics across use cases. This platform approach allows ReliOx to support incremental transition from non-regulated and veterinary markets into FDA-regulated medical devices and DoD-relevant medical countermeasures without fundamental redesign. ReliOx represents a strong MTEC-aligned opportunity at the intersection of advanced chemistry, trauma care, infectious disease mitigation, and distributed manufacturing. The company offers a defensible intellectual property position, a clear regulatory strategy, and a near-term path to operational relevance for military medicine and biodefense stakeholders .

Member
ADS, Inc.

ADS, Inc. (Atlantic Diving Supply) is a leading value-added logistics and supply chain solutions provider serving all branches of the U.S. Military, federal, state and local government organizations, law enforcement agencies, first responders, partner nations, and the defense industry. Founded in 1997 in Virginia Beach, VA, ADS has grown into a Top 50 Department of Defense Contractor, recognized for its commitment to legendary customer service, broad procurement options, and innovative product and service offerings. The company is deeply rooted in its community, supporting military families, veterans, and first responders through scholarships, corporate giving, and ongoing service. ADS upholds the highest standards of business ethics, compliance, and quality, as demonstrated by its AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 14001:2015 certifications.

Member
Leidos

Leidos is a leading systems integrator in science, technology, and engineering, dedicated to solving some of the world's toughest challenges. The company emphasizes a commitment to integrity, diversity, and sustainability while delivering innovative solutions across various sectors including defense, healthcare, and energy.

Member
Vivonics, Inc.

Vivonics, Inc. is dedicated to creating innovative solutions to address unmet medical and wellness needs, focusing on mobile physiological monitoring, advanced diagnostics, non-invasive interventions, and clinical decision support technologies. Founded in 2012, the company collaborates with a network of clinical and academic partners to enhance human health and performance in various challenging environments.

Member
RTI International

RTI International is an independent nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. With a vision to address the world's most critical problems through science-based solutions, RTI integrates expertise across social and laboratory sciences, engineering, and international development to deliver reliable data, thorough analysis, and innovative methods that inform public policy and practice.

Member
University of Georgia

The University of Georgia (UGA) is dedicated to facilitating instruction, scholarly and creative activity, and research collaborations across disciplines. UGA is a leader in research-based products and innovation, significantly impacting the state of Georgia and beyond through its extensive research initiatives and academic programs.

Member
University of California, Irvine

The UCI Office of Research is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the creative and scholarly activities of UCI faculty and researchers. It provides central administrative support for research programs, ensuring compliance with regulations and fostering an environment conducive to research and innovation.

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Projects

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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

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