NAMRL conducts basic and applied research and development in the biomedical and allied sciences to better understand and mitigate challenges and threats aerospace operational environments pose to service members. Our lab is equipped with capabilities in acceleration and sensory science, engineering, and technical services, all of which are supported by a unique collection of state-of-the science research devices. NAMRL’s human-rated motion platforms include the disorientation research device the KrakenTM. One-of-a-kind research platform capable of multi-axis motion as experienced by up to two subjects in yaw, pitch, roll, heave while undergoing planetary and linear accelerations, up to 3Gz sustained. Key area of investigation includes situation awareness, motion sickness, vestibular function, unusual acceleration environmental, effects of altitude, aircrew physiology, sustained operations and fatigue, personnel selection, back and neck pain and injury in aircrew, enroute patient care, and visual and auditory sciences. Our research portfolio enables NAMRU-Dayton to transition validated knowledge and technologies to the fleet, thereby mitigating and preventing leading aeromedical factors associated with flight mishaps, and protecting and enhancing the health, readiness, and performance of aircrew and other service members.

The Environmental Health Effects Laboratory (EHEL) at the Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton serves as the Navy's premier operational toxicology lab, with over 65 years of supporting the Navy and DoD by assessing the potential health effects and risk to Service Members from exposures to chemical and environmental stressors found in military occupational and operational settings. EHEL is recognized across the Joint Force for its unique facilities and capabilities, including inhalation toxicology and exposure, coupled by its ability to assess outcomes across a wide variety of health effects from performance decrements and hearing-related injury to pulmonary effects and chronic disease. Additionally, EHEL’s expertise in deciphering underlying mechanisms of action provides invaluable information towards countermeasures and mitigation efforts to minimize or prevent impacts to service member readiness, health, and performance. The ultimate objective is to support the readiness of the Navy and the Joint Force through investigating health effects of environmental Occupational and operational hazards and stressors.