Invisible Threats, Visible Solutions for the Future of Military Environmental Health

The second annual Military Environmental Epidemiology Symposium advanced force readiness by combating invisible battlefield hazards.

June 5, 2026 by Wendy Li

The second annual Military Environmental Epidemiology Symposium (MEES), held on April 30 at the Uniformed Services University (USU), brought together more than 300 attendees seeking to advance the science of environmental health and its impact on service member readiness.

Experts from advocacy groups and academic institutions shared existing research and had the opportunity to facilitate new collaborations. This event was made possible by a team from USU's Department of Medicine, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Defense Centers for Public Health-Aberdeen (DCPH-A), and the Canadian Department of National Defense, reflecting the interagency spirit of the event.

The agenda of the symposium was built around three core pillars: resources for evaluating environmental and occupational exposures, exposure assessment within the military, and exposures of concern.

Dr. Laura Brosch, USU's Interim Vice President for Research, opened the event by highlighting the profound impact of environmental epidemiology on mission success. "When our service members deploy, they are prepared to face the kinetic effects of the battlefield, the threats," she said. "However, history and science have shown us that some of the most pervasive and insidious threats are invisible. They are the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the soil on which they operate."

A major highlight of the event was the emphasis on Job Exposure Matrices (JEMs) within the military. JEMs are epidemiological tools used to systematically link job titles with potential or relevant exposures to specific workplace hazards. Experts discussed how these tools can significantly enhance occupational exposure assessments, providing more precise data on the long-term health effects of service-related toxic exposures.

Dr. Jennifer Rusiecki, Professor of Medicine and chair of the organizing committee, noted that the MEES addresses a historical and critical absence of dedicated spaces for this type of research.

"This symposium bridges a significant gap in the field, providing a much-needed forum dedicated specifically to military environmental epidemiology. Looking back at our inaugural event last year, it's incredibly clear how much our community has been craving a space like this to share research, tackle roadblocks, and network. Moving forward, we want to ensure we are lifting up the next generation of talent, which is why we've introduced lightning talks for junior investigators this year."

Other sessions addressed compelling research examining how the serum concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are associated with glioma risk, as well as emerging areas vital to force protection, including the physiological effects of extreme heat and cold, the impacts of noise and ototoxin exposure, and the risks of ultrafine particulate matter air pollution.

The symposium culminated with an interactive session aimed at dismantling organizational silos between federal agencies and academic institutions. Participants identified significant potential for enhanced collaboration across the Military Health System, VA, and NCI-ensuring that cutting-edge research translates directly into improved health outcomes for both active-duty personnel and veterans.