DARPA funds UC San Diego to engineer oxygen-rich blood cells for soldier endurance
UC San Diego researchers have secured more than $11 million from DARPA to create engineered red blood cells that could enhance soldiers’ stamina and physical output.
A DARPA award exceeding $11 million will back a three-year project at UC San Diego aimed at engineering red blood cells that temporarily increase oxygen transport for military personnel. Led by associate professor Alejandro Chavez, the team will employ gene-editing techniques to make the cells detect physical stress and respond by producing proteins that improve tissue oxygenation, with testing conducted in a hollow-fiber bioreactor.
UC San Diego’s vice chancellor for Health Sciences John Carethers likened the work to DARPA’s classic "moonshot" ventures. Partners from Northeastern University, the University of Pennsylvania and MIT will join the effort, while co-investigator Hojun Li sees future uses in sports performance, treatment of heart attacks, strokes, diabetic ulcers and even cancer detection. The initiative reflects the Pentagon’s recent emphasis on soldier health under Pete Hegseth, and researchers stress that the technology’s impact could extend far beyond the battlefield.
Why it matters
Advancing blood-cell engineering could reshape military readiness and open new medical treatments for oxygen-related diseases.
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