Summary
The Smart Red Blood Cells (Smart-RBC) program aims to revolutionize how we support warfighter performance in extreme and dangerous environments. Recognizing the limitations of current solutions and the time required for natural acclimation, Smart-RBC is exploring innovative ways to enhance physiological resilience.
This program focuses on engineering red blood cells (RBCs) to temporarily enhance the body's natural capabilities, improving performance and survivability in challenging conditions. Safety is paramount; Smart-RBC specifically utilizes enucleated RBCs, which cannot transfer genetic material, mitigating potential risks to recipients.
The program will not involve clinical trials or direct human testing.
The program is structured in two phases: the first will focus on demonstrating the feasibility of engineering RBCs with these enhanced capabilities, while the second will concentrate on building and testing functional prototypes.
By leveraging the body's existing systems, Smart-RBC offers a potentially safer and more effective approach to enhancing human performance in extreme environments.