Alexander Green on Saliva Test for Soldiers, Athletes, and Others Aims to Predict Performance
Dr. Alexander Green, BU’s Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering, and his colleagues plan to develop a fast, portable saliva test that will analyze an assortment of biomarkers associated with performance on challenging tasks. This project is funded by the US Defense Projects Agency (DARPA), which aims to develop a test that will one day save lives and dollars by predicting soldiers’ performance on missions.
With funding up to $17.7 million federal funds, Green and his team will start by testing volunteers as they undergo precise physiological tests. For example, the volunteers might be intensely exercising for multiple days with little rest, while the team will take samples to see how their performance might be associated with different biomarkers, such as testosterone, cortisol, and myoglobin.
Though this research will be a complex challenge, Green’s long experience in developing paper-based testing systems will guide him through this research journey. You can read more about it here.
Congratulations, Dr. Alexander Green!