Military Working Dog Whole Blood Product or Substitute
SBIR Opportunity Analysis
The Defense Health Agency, within the Department of Defense SBIR program, is seeking a shelf-stable whole blood product or substitute for Military Working Dogs to improve hemorrhage control after battlefield injury. The effort calls for a canine-use product that replicates whole blood oxygen-carrying function and can be used near the point of injury and throughout the continuum of care. Key technical requirements include a shelf life of more than three years, thermal stability from -9℃ to 60℃, oxygen exchange with an oxygen capacity of about 24 ml/dL, and testing in appropriate non-canine animal models rather than dogs. Phase II includes development for large-scale production and in vivo evaluation against crystalloid fluids, plasma, and whole blood in severe hemorrhage or hemorrhagic shock, with outcomes measured through 72 hours. The solicitation is DHA26BZ01-NV001, under solicitation number 26.BZ, with applications due June 3, 2026 at 16:00 UTC.