Add The California Post on Google California scientists are working to create “smart” blood cells designed to boost soldiers’ endurance and physical performance in a futuristic military project backed by more than $11 million in federal funding.
Researchers at UC San Diego announced they had received the contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—the U.S. Department of Defense’s research and development arm for emerging military technologies.
It comes as the military has shifted towards a focus on health under Pete Hegseth, with new fitness requirements, a high-octane US Army advert last year featuring jacked up trainer Scott Dalrymple pumping iron, and the defense secretary appearing with a hulking soldier during a run in Germany.
The three-year project will focus on engineering red blood cells that can carry more oxygen, potentially giving military personnel an edge during intense physical activity, reported ABC10.
Scientists believe temporarily increasing the cells’ oxygen-delivery capacity could improve endurance, reduce the effects of strenuous exertion and support soldiers’ overall health.
“We are thrilled to receive this award from DARPA and to bring together a world-class team to work on this groundbreaking project,” principal investigator Dr. Alejandro Chavez, an associate professor of pediatrics, said.
“Blood cell engineering is still an emerging field, but our team is committed to exploring this technology and maximizing its potential for transforming human performance.”
Researchers plan to use gene-editing techniques to alter red blood cells so they can detect physical exertion and respond by producing proteins that improve oxygen delivery to tissues.
Dr. John Carethers—UC San Diego’s vice chancellor for Health Sciences—compared the ambitious undertaking to the type of long-shot research DARPA has become known for funding.
The souped-up cells will then be tested and optimized using a bioreactor known as a hollow fiber reactor.
“DARPA follows a ‘moonshot’ model, where the goal is nearly impossible but successful projects can be highly impactful, and our researchers tackle those challenges head on in order to push the boundaries of biomedical science,” Carethers said.
While the project is being funded specifically for military development, researchers believe the technology could eventually have applications far beyond the battlefield.
Engineered red blood cells could be used to improve athletic performance or to treat medical conditions in which tissues do not receive enough oxygen, including heart attacks, strokes, vascular diseases, and diabetic skin ulcers, according to the outlet.
Researchers are also eyeing possible applications in cancer detection and treatment.
“This project has the potential to revolutionize the field of red blood cell engineering,” said co-investigator Dr. Hojun Li, an assistant professor of pediatrics, attending hematologist/oncologist at Rady Children’s Hospital and member of UCSD Moores Cancer Center.
“While our focus in this current project is improving performance, if we achieve these goals, I’m excited to explore future possibilities of red cell engineering in cancer treatment, where both early detection and treatment of microscopic levels of disease could potentially be achieved by future iterations of ‘smart’ red blood cells.”
UC San Diego researchers will work alongside teams from Northeastern University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the project.
Li said the research could ultimately lay the groundwork for treatments extending well beyond its original military purpose.
“This science is much bigger than this one project,” he said. “It has the potential to open up new avenues for treating a wide range of conditions, from anemia to cancer, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of this research.”
“With this award, we’re taking the first steps towards making this vision a reality, and we’re eager to see where this technology will take us.”
