The Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM) is funded and managed by the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) with funds also available through the Office of Naval Research, the Air Force Office of the Surgeon General, NIH, and the VA. Plus funds are made available through local public and private matching funds. So far, AFRIM has received $85 million in federal funds and $180 million in local and private funding.
AFRIM is developing new products and therapies to treat severe injuries suffered by service members in current wars. The concept of regenerative medicine is to replace or regenerate human cells, tissues, or to restore or establish normal function for organs.
The use of explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan has caused a marked increase in severe blast trauma. Because of better body armor, quicker evacuation from the battlefield, and advanced medical care, many of the injured survive only to face the challenge of overcoming severe limb, head, face, and burn injuries that can take years to treat and may result in significant lifelong impairment.
AFRIM is emphasizing five areas for research including craniofacial reconstruction, wound healing without scarring, limb salvage and reconstruction and transplantation, compartment syndrome, and burn repair. Today, as a result of AFIRM research, more than ten clinical studies for potential new therapies are being conducted.
The Army is now in the second phase of AFRIM with $75 million federal funds available for the project. The Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine has been selected to lead the second phase.
An interesting research project in this phase includes developing a skin printer to help burn victims. The research team is working on a device to print skin directly on burns. Based on ink jet printer technology, the system will include a scanner to determine the size and depth of the burn.
The correct type of cells will be placed in a device similar to an ink cartridge so that cells can be printed directly on the wound. Eventually, scientists hope to be able to match skin pigmentation and promote hair growth as well.
The AFRIM-II team known as the “Warrior Restoration Consortium” is working with a number of leading hospitals and university medical centers to develop clinical therapies over the next five years. This research will concentrate on restoring function to severely traumatized limbs, reconstructing facial and skull injuries through tissue regeneration, developing skin regeneration for burns, developing treatments to prevent rejection of composite transplants, and reconstructing genital and urinary organs.