Connecting Research to Reality, highlights from the MHSRS conference
This year’s MHSRS Conference — Supporting the Deployed Warfighter through Military Medical Research — was an incredibly successful four days of connection, learning, and forward momentum. For our team, it was not only a chance to share our work but to deepen partnerships with both US and UK military medical communities and to sharpen our narrative around clinically actionable, operation-ready research.
Held in Kissimmee, Florida, Emma Priestley, Nicky Johnson and clinical advisory board member, Col(R) Kyle Remick, spent the four days attending presentations, connecting with new and old friends, and presenting our poster with sustained interest over the four hours.
Highlights from the Conference
The programme was packed with posters, talks, and side conversations, and our four-hour poster session drew a steady stream of interest—enough to turn attendees into potential collaborators. Col(R) Remick helped amplify our reach, opening doors and guiding high‑value introductions, allowing us to connect with decision-makers and partners across the military medicine landscape. Our poster turned into a natural magnet for discussion, a clear signal that our data speaks directly to deployed settings and practical field use.
The big takeaway? Research must translate into field-ready outcomes. Across sessions, the emphasis was on the conditions and scenarios likely to show up in future operating environments. There was also broad consensus that simulations and military exercises are key pathways for device adoption, underscoring the value of weaving research findings into training so users are ready when it matters most. Between the strong networking, a compelling poster, and a shared push for actionable impact, the conference left us with real momentum and clear next-step opportunities.
What Resonated with Us
Our operational relevance hits home - The bottom line is that our work needs to speak directly to users. The emphasis on real-world impact kept the conversations grounded and gave our data immediate relevance.
The power of in-person networking - There’s something special about face-to-face connections that unlocks doors and speeds up introductions, turning potential leads into real conversations with momentum.
Learning from international perspectives - Hearing from countries actively at war, and other international experiences broadened our strategic lens. It helped illuminate how adoption can unfold in different environments and gave us fresh ideas for making our work transferable.
The MHSRS Audience
The conference brought together a diverse cross-section of the military medical community, including programme leads, field clinicians, researchers, and procurement decision-makers from both the US and UK. The presence of international partners—along with representatives from allied services—created a rich, multi-perspective environment that fuelled cross-border dialogue and collaborative opportunities.
With over 2,852 abstracts submitted and 1,124 accepted, our poster session drew strong engagement and sustained interest. We saw steady foot traffic and thoughtful questions. The format proved effective for conveying our narrative and data to a mixed audience of operators, researchers, and program staff.
Overall attendance exceeded expectations for a four-day program, signalling broad interest in deployed-warrior-focused research. A healthy mix of new faces and returning attendees indicated ongoing community engagement and appetite for follow-up collaboration. Early gauges from sign-ins and on-site conversations suggested robust opportunities for pilots, data-sharing partnerships, and joint proposals in the coming quarter.
Looking Ahead
Momentum from MHSRS is just the beginning. We’re turning conversations into collaborations by advancing targeted pilots, expanding data-sharing opportunities, and refining our real-world evidence plan to strengthen deployments in future operating environments. We’ll follow up with prospective partners, organisers, and funders to translate insights from the conference into concrete programmes—while continuing to integrate international perspectives to broaden applicability across diverse contexts.
If you’re interested in partnering, data collaboration, or pilot opportunities, connect with me, nicky.johnson@actmedical.co.uk and move ideas from discussion to deployment.
ACT Medical’s award-winning medical device concept aims to save the lives of trauma victims by stemming bleeding from knife and gunshot wounds. Follow ACT Medical on LinkedIn for latest updates or email hello@actmedical.co.uk to speak to us directly.