SILVER SPRING, Md. –
The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research held a four-day conference June 20-23 to celebrate 130 years of service to the warfighter and showcase how the research priorities of today will improve readiness for the future.
As the oldest research institution in the Army and the largest biomedical research facility administered by the DoD, WRAIR has remained at the forefront of solving threats to medical readiness. Protecting Army Soldiers from infectious diseases was part of the Army Medical School's original mandate in 1893, and through the years, WRAIR has expanded its research portfolio to include performance optimization and brain health.
The unit transitioned from the AMS to the Army Medical Center in 1923 and eventually to WRAIR in 1953. Today, WRAIR is represented in 39 locations across six continents, with more than 2,000 Soldiers, civilians, contractors, and host-nation local personnel dedicated to providing impactful defense health solutions through innovative research. With such a widespread global footprint, the unit focused on a more internal-based event to share best practices and foster further collaborations.
"This week is about celebrating and recognizing the many achievements across the entire global enterprise," said Col. Chad Koenig, WRAIR commander.
The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) celebrated 130 years of service with a four-day conference, held from June 20-23, that highlighted its historic contributions to military health and showcased future research priorities. As the Army's oldest research institution and the Department of Defense’s largest biomedical research facility, WRAIR has expanded its focus from infectious diseases to encompass performance optimization and brain health.
Operating across 39 locations on six continents with over 2,000 personnel, WRAIR remains committed to delivering cutting-edge defense health solutions. “This week is about recognizing our achievements and fostering internal collaboration to advance WRAIR as a whole,” said Col. Chad Koenig, WRAIR commander. "Our scientists often present research data across the highest levels of government, industry, academia, and internationally. I want everyone to learn more about the capabilities and research efforts outside of your specific lanes to advance all of WRAIR to a wider audience."
The event started with a presentation by Dr. Kristen Pearlstein from the National Museum of Health and Medicine, who discussed the significant medical challenges soldiers faced during the Civil War and World War I. She emphasized how poor sanitation, rampant disease, and inadequate medical care led to higher fatalities than combat wounds.
"Twice as many soldiers died of disease than combat injuries during the Civil War," Pearlstein said, illustrating the continued relevance of WRAIR's mission to prevent such outcomes in future conflicts.
On day two, presentations from WRAIR’s forward labs, including units in Thailand and Kenya, showcased the institute's international research partnerships. Col. Matthew Levine, director of the U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-AFRIMS, highlighted their role in developing vaccines for malaria, dengue, and HIV. Col. Eric Garges from the U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa spoke on the institute’s impact on the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has saved hundreds of thousands of lives across Africa.
"PEPFAR is a critical part of MRD-A portfolio since the earliest days and has been a linchpin for public health engagement within the interagency in the countries where we support PEPFAR, host nation militaries, health governance stakeholders," Garges said. "PEPFAR is the platform for AFRICOM (African Cohort Study), which has informed improvements in HIV care across the globe. In support of PEPFAR, WRAIR has been instrumental in saving probably hundreds of thousands of lives in Africa and assisting in turning the tide of a pandemic that was once thought to threaten global stability and U.S. national security."
The last two days focused on WRAIR’s Centers for Infectious Diseases (CIDR) and Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience (CMPN). Milestones in viral disease surveillance and medical countermeasures were shared, with innovations aimed at protecting military personnel and enhancing global health security. The Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience presented breakthroughs in brain health, mental health resilience, and warfighter performance optimization.
“In the last 130 years, we’ve made exponential progress in protecting warfighters,” said Col. Scott Williams, director of the CMPN.
Attendees praised the breadth of WRAIR’s research efforts. “WRAIR is the small giant—amazing people working in every field,” said Staff Sgt. Karla Lopez, underscoring the institute’s critical role in advancing both military and global health initiatives.