Pentagon awards $3.4 mln grant to develop urine test predicting stress fractures in recruits

Published Aug 12, 12:30 PM UTC

The Pentagon has awarded a $3.4 million grant to Rosalind Franklin University and Old Dominion University to develop a non-invasive urine test that can detect biomarkers for bone stress injuries (BSIs) in military recruits. BSIs affect up to 8% of recruits and cost the DoD about $100 million annually in medical expenses. The four-year project aims to create a clinically actionable test to identify stress fractures early, improving readiness and reducing severe injuries. Researchers will study military cohorts over time, including gender-specific analyses. The effort builds on recent studies, including a Uniformed Services University study of 446 patients at Walter Reed, which found recruits are more prone to leg and pelvis fractures. The test is seen as a way to overcome diagnostic challenges, as X-rays often miss early BSIs.