The Wellman Center works in many areas but has deep expertise in optics and imaging modalities which take advantage of the unique interactions of light with tissue to deliver diagnostic and therapeutic solutions to medical problems. However, Program innovations are not limited to light-based technologies. The wide array of applications include diagnostics and treatments for hemorrhage, wounds, burns, brain, pain, vision, hearing, scar remodeling, skin, nerves, blood vessels, tendons, pulmonary, GI, CV, orthopedics, shock, sleep apnea, cancer involving multiple organs, infections, vaccines, coagulopathies, human performance and others - essentially every part of the human body. The Program has also developed multiple platform technologies for structural and functional imaging, such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy (DOS) and Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (SFDI). There are already over 26 clinical innovations in use worldwide, 20 platform technologies that have multiple applications, and over 40 startup companies in addition to options agreements.  Further, there is avery robust pipeline with over 80 projects in various stages of development, and 2392 issued US patents plus pending and allowed patent activity. Other technologies are poised for near-term application to medical problems (1-3 years), while other projects have been prototyped or have demonstrated Proof-of-Principle and are under active investigation. Finally, there are projects in the very early discovery phase. This has led to over 900 peer reviewed publications in scientific journals.

Recently introduced into medical practice is tissue copying. The first product is an autologous full thickness skin copying device that includes the skin appendages (hair follicles, sebaceous glands and sweat ducts) but absent the usual damage and scars at the donor site. The device will be used for burns and other wounds in place of usual full thickness skin grafts. Another major recent advance is a unique method of non-narcotic pain management in burns and wounds.  adjuc. Interestingly, this invention also has the potential to be useful in diabetes and heart disease. New innovations also include a 5-minute point-of-care, hand held device for detecting blood clotting disorders with one drop of blood, a sleep apnea treatment, a rapid point-of-care (< 1 minute) detection device for antibiotic resistant pathogens, and a "smart" spray-on bandage that monitors wound health by detecting tissue levels of oxygen. This technology is also now wearable for human performance information. There are advances in tissue and wound repair, antibody detection, and in-vivo imaging of most organs in the body at the cellular level.

Major advances in the detection, prevention and treatment of hemorrhage has recently been made. A recent tourniquet ‘clip’ has been developed that will guide the proper application of tourniquets, preventing limb loss. The early discovery pipeline includes stimulating the production of platelets as well as increasing the life time of stored platelets. Such things as living cell lasers, bio-absorbable lasers, biopsy free diagnosis at the cellular level, as well as "copying" tissues such as cartilage and whole organs. A first in-man clinical study using light-based treatments for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) was just completed and published and preliminary findings show that light-based therapy is safe and has an effect on the brain.  It shows promise for a non-invasive treatment. The recent creation of a vaccine adjuvant (published in Science) has just been licensed to a company.  Also, diagnosis and treatments of neuro-degenerative diseases are under clinical investigation and a unique way to diagnose and treat cancer is in the prototyping stage. A new ear ‘plug’ device has been invented that will prevent blast injury to the ear, without attenuating hearing under normal conditions, thus preserving hearing allowing the warrrior to hear commands.

Wellman personnel comprise inter-disciplinary teams of basic and clinical scientists, biomedical engineers, and health care professionals with a 30-year history of working with DOD, NIH and industry.  Wellman draws from some of the best students, scientists, engineers and clinicians from around the world, and they have direct access to a patient base as well as in-house animal hospitals. Wellman is dedicated to Problem Solving - and getting new Medical Innovations to patients. The Wellman Center has 14 labs withing the Center with different areas of focus. There are several core laboratories in Wellman including computation, pathology, synthetic chemistry, translational and an innovation engineering center. There is also an FDA-approved unit to protype instruments and catheters that can be taken directly to the operating room. Every project is evaluated early for feasibility; including regulatory barriers, reimbursement issues, potential markets, practicality, safety, effectiveness, and distribution, as well as national and international adoption. Wellman has a strong record of commercialization because the ultimate goal is to get new medical advances to the warfighter and has the added benefit of creating a wide field of civilian applications while creating jobs.