DARPA Nanotech, Machine Intelligence, Supersoldier Project Highlights for 2010-2011

DARPA Nanotech, Machine Intelligence, Supersoldier Project Highlights for 2010-2011: "This program seeks to yield revolutionary advances across several key areas of biology and biomedical technologies of critical importance to the DoD. The overarching principle is to apply microsystem technology (electronics, microfluidics, photonics, micromechanics, etc.) to create leapfrog advances ranging from manipulation of single cells through soldier-worn protective and diagnostic instruments.

On the cell-level of the scale, the aim is to be able to increase by several decades the speed with which we sequence, analyze and functionally edit cellular genomes. With microsystem approaches, a prime goal is to be able to address large populations of cells, select as few as one, capture it, make specific edits to its DNA, and examine or replicate the cell as needed. Such capability will be applicable to a wide variety of problems including biological weapons countermeasures and understanding the underpinnings of human cancers. At an intermediate scale, new insights into the interactions of photons with the nervous system tissues of mammals will allow the development of mm-scale microphotonic implants that have the potential to restore sensory and motor function to individuals with traumatic spinal injury, for example. On the other end of the size scale, a primary goal is to apply microsystem techniques to soldier-protective biomedical systems."