Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute


The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute is a triservice laboratory in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and was chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1961. It conducts research in the field of radiobiology and related matters which are essential to the operational and medical support of the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. military services. AFRRI provides services and performs cooperative research with other federal and civilian agencies and institutions.

Organization

AFRRI is a joint entity of the military departments and is subject to the authority and direction of the president of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, under the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

Program

AFRRI is charged with executing DoD's Medical Radiological Defense Research Program. Its civilian and active duty military personnel conduct exploratory and developmental research to identify and develop medical countermeasures against ionizing radiation. Core areas of study include prevention, assessment, and treatment of radiological injuries. The program seeks to develop prophylactic and therapeutic drugs, such as Ex-Rad, that prevent and treat radiation injuries and to develop rapid high-precision analytical methods that assess radiation exposure doses from clinical samples and thus aid in the triage and medical management of radiological casualties. New drug candidates and biological dose assessment technologies are developed up to and through preclinical testing and evaluation.

Responsibilities

AFRRI was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2004.