Research
On Day 3 of MHSRS 2026, USU Research Confronts the Threats a Force Can’t See
BLUF – On the third day of the 2026 Military Health System Research Symposium, Uniformed Services University researchers highlighted studies focused on improving warfighter survivability and recovery, including advances in prolonged casualty care, infectious disease prevention, rehabilitation, operational psychology, and the use of artificial intelligence and data science to support military medical decision-making. For Navy Medicine, the research demonstrates how multidisciplinary collaboration is accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into practical capabilities that enhance expeditionary medicine, combat casualty care, force health protection, and readiness across the Military Health System.
https://news.usuhs.edu/2026/08/on-day-3-of-mhsrs-2026-usu-research.html
As MHSRS 2026 Opens, USU Research Looks to the Future Fight
BLUF – Uniformed Services University researchers opened the 2026 Military Health System Research Symposium by presenting research focused on future battlefield challenges, including more realistic airway management training, early detection of blast-related brain injury, penetrating brain trauma, and drug-resistant combat wound infections, while military leaders emphasized translating scientific discoveries into capabilities that improve warfighter care. For Navy Medicine, the presentations highlight continued investment in operationally relevant research that will strengthen combat casualty care, traumatic brain injury management, infectious disease response, and expeditionary medical readiness for future large-scale conflicts.
https://news.usuhs.edu/2026/08/as-mhsrs-2026-opens-usu-research-looks.html
Pioneering medical researchers honored with 2026 Military Health System Research Symposium Awards
BLUF – The article highlights the work of military and civilian researchers whose innovations were recognized at the 2026 Military Health System Research Symposium Awards, honoring advances in areas including blood product use in austere environments, warfighter vision readiness, respiratory disease, cold-weather injuries, and bone stress injuries that directly improve the health and survivability of service members. For Navy Medicine, the awards underscore the critical role of research and innovation in advancing operational medicine, combat casualty care, and force readiness by translating scientific discoveries into practical capabilities for deployed clinicians and warfighters.
https://health.mil/News/Dvids-Articles/2026/08/03/news571374
Top military health official kicks off annual symposium, encourages collaboration to ‘transform research into better care for those who serve’
BLUF – Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs Keith Bass opened the 2026 Military Health System Research Symposium by emphasizing that collaboration among military clinicians, researchers, academia, industry, and international partners is essential to transforming research into medical capabilities that improve care for service members and strengthen warfighter readiness. For Navy Medicine, his remarks reinforce the importance of continued investment in military medical research—including combat casualty care, brain health, blood products, operational medicine, artificial intelligence, and autonomous medical logistics—to prepare clinicians and medical systems for future large-scale combat operations.
https://health.mil/News/Dvids-Articles/2026/08/03/news571397
Navy Nurse Awarded for Pediatric Trauma Care Research, Improvements
BLUF – Navy Cmdr. Emily Latimer, an emergency clinical nurse specialist at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, received the Defense Health Agency Nursing Award for Evidence-Based Practice for leading research that demonstrated a pediatric-specific blood infusion system is faster and easier to use than standard adult systems, improving transfusion capabilities for critically injured children. The project highlights how nurse-led, evidence-based research can directly enhance pediatric trauma readiness, strengthen deployment preparedness for military medical teams who may treat injured children in operational settings, and improve the quality of care delivered across Navy Medicine.
U.S. Navy microbiologist discovers 14 new viruses and gives them Texas names
BLUF – A Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio team discovered 14 bacteriophages—viruses that attack bacteria—and gave them Texas-themed names after isolating them from wastewater and finding that many effectively kill antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecalis. For Navy Medicine, the research could lead to new treatments for resistant infections, reducing lost duty time while also advancing phage therapy as a potential tool against difficult battlefield and hospital-acquired infections.
Registration opens for the 2026 Military Health System Research Symposium
BLUF – Registration has opened for the 2026 Military Health System Research Symposium (Aug. 3–6, Kissimmee, Florida), the Department of War’s premier military medical research meeting, which will focus on warfighter medical readiness, expeditionary medicine, human performance, and return-to-duty research while bringing together more than 3,700 military, academic, government, and industry participants. For Navy Medicine, MHSRS remains the premier venue to showcase operational research, build collaborations, and translate scientific advances into capabilities that improve maritime medical readiness, combat casualty care, and expeditionary healthcare.
https://health.mil/News/Dvids-Articles/2026/06/25/news568550