Military Medical Research
The Samu Eli Institute’s Military Medical Research program investigates integrative medicine approaches to the unique health challenges facing military service members, veterans, and their families. This comprehensive program addresses chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, resilience, and overall force fitness through rigorous clinical research and program evaluation.
Research initiatives include clinical trials of acupuncture for battlefield pain management, evaluations of mind-body approaches for PTSD and resilience, studies of nutritional strategies for performance optimization, and assessments of healing environment modifications in military medical facilities.
The program has established productive partnerships with major military medical centers, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, facilitating research that directly informs clinical practice guidelines and training programs for military healthcare providers.
Through the Total Force Fitness framework and related initiatives, this program promotes a comprehensive approach to military health that addresses physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and environmental dimensions of service member wellbeing and readiness.