UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement

The UK Armed Forces are more frequently operating in cold environments to contribute to NATO’s deterrence in the High North and on the Eastern flank; but data suggest that the number of cases of peripheral cold injuries is increasing in deployed Service Personnel (SP), even during short deployments. Given our growing presence in the Nordic-Baltic regions, Defence urgently needs to identify and protect SP susceptible to cold injuries and improve the clinical assessment of injured SP for their safe and timely return to cold environments. This work will aim to reduce the risk of peripheral cold injuries by developing a prediction tool to identify susceptible SP; and improve deployability by developing a clinical assessment tool to enable clinicians to assess injured SP safely and efficiently, year-round. This laboratory-based research will largely take place at the climate chamber in North Yorkshire.