Future military technology
to improve soldiers' defenses
By Ian Clift
Summer Reporter
Imagine the soldier of the future, equipped with
edible vaccines, artificial skin and implants to monitor his health.
Imagine soldiers who are defended from chemical
threats by frontline antidotes and camouflaged by armor that mimics
vegetation so that it can't be detected.
A report released June 20 by the National Research
Council Board on Army Science and Technology portrays a not so distant
future containing those things.
Michael Ladisch, professor of agricultural and
biological engineering, chaired the study Opportunities in Biotechnology
for Future Army Applications.
The intent was to provide critical comments about
the state of biotechnology and the investments that the Army should
make in biotech research.
The study was not concerned with offensive capabilities
and made a number of defensive recommendations for the future development
of Army resources.
The study suggested that the Army develop novel
relationships with industry and build on existing expertise as well
as establish relationships between the Army medical community and industry.
Some of the high-priority areas suggested were
in self-replicating systems for wound healing, shock therapeutics and
small-scale vaccine production. The Army should overcome barriers in
research in order to produce radiation resistant electronics and molecular
sensors.
Ladisch said, "The study spoke of things that may
appear 10 to 20 years from now." Many of the research areas suggested
would have little or no application outside of military use. A "high"
investment priority was given to technology that was likely to fill
a specific need in the future battlefield.
"The report was not to focus on medical applications,"
said Ladisch, but did include devices and future applications that could
help in the areas of disease recovery and time saving antibiotic and
vaccine development.
Fundamental research in disease study is being
done at Purdue. Michael Rossman, professor of biological science, said
he has come up with antibiotic that may help in alleviating certain
types of the common cold. Work such as Rossman's may lead to future
military applications.
"It’s amazing how pervasive biotechnology
is becoming," said Ladisch, "In ways you wouldn't know until you think
about it."
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