# Project 625328 — Biosciences Performance

**Program element:** 0602202F — Human Effectiveness Applied Research  
**Project:** 625328  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 2 — Applied Research  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602202F/625328  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602202F

## Summary

Project 625328 — Biosciences Performance requests $13.9M in FY2027, 13% of the $103.2M requested for program element 0602202F, down 58% on FY2026. 4 R-2A activities decompose the request.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 44.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 32.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 13.9 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 14.3 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 22.1 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 22.3 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 23.1 |

> Estimate types are not summed. This project is one leaf of PE 0602202F; the PE total is the sum of its projects, never added to them.

## What project 625328 buys

This project conducts research to optimize, safe-guard, and restore the cognitive and physical performance of the multi-domain Department of the Air Force (DAF) warfighter in all mission environments. Research is focused in the following thrust areas: 1) Applied Cognitive Neurosciences: technologies to sustain, augment, and recover operator performance; 2) Biotechnology for Performance: research in systems biology, synthetic biology, and risk assessment; 3) Performance Sensing and Assessment: technologies to sense and forecast operator state based on physiological, molecular, and environmental signatures related to mission performance; and 4) Performance Impact of Flight: elucidate how air environments affect processes of life and the ability to maintain physiological equilibrium and develop countermeasures and technologies to sustain, enhance, and restore operator performance.

## Activities (R-2A) — 4

| Activity | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 | Move | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Cognitive Neurosciences | 13.5 | 14.5 | 7.4 | −49% | — |
| Performance Impact of Flight | 3.0 | 7.2 | 6.5 | −10% | — |
| Performance Sensing and Assessment | 4.9 | 5.8 | 0.0 | −100% | — |
| Biotechnology for Performance | 5.3 | 5.4 | 0.0 | −100% | — |

> Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. In the request year they partition this project exactly; in earlier years they can under-cover it.

### Applied Cognitive Neurosciences

**FY2027 planned work.** -Continue developing methods to communicate cognitive states to AI by completing a workload assessment app for delivery to Air Force Global Strike Command. -Continue modeling superior decision-making by developing and delivering the final research report on this topic. -Complete evaluations of BMI applications by transitioning the in-house developed cognitive workload assessment app to its Air Force Global Strike Command customer. -Complete the development of BCI algorithms by submitting a final report evaluating the efficacy of tVNS and biofeedback interventions for accelerating learning in simulated piloting tasks. -Complete the evaluation of neuromodulation technologies by transitioning nerve stimulation technology for fatigue management to customers including Air Mobility Command, Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Education & Training Command, and multiple Army commands. -Commence efforts to augment sleep stages for longer-duration missions by evaluating the effects of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) on sleep time, efficiency, and latency.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by 7.145 million due to the successful conclusion and transition of major research efforts. Key deliverables include a final report on tVNS for accelerated learning, the transition of a cognitive workload app to Air Force Global Strike Command, and the transition of fatigue management technology to multiple operational commands. This reduction reflects programmatic adjustments to the DAF Science and Technology portfolio for strategic realignment to optimize core research areas and improve resource efficiency.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** -Continue evaluating brain-machine interface (BMI) applications that enhance human-machine teaming by constructing algorithms to accurately predict workload and fatigue during flight simulator tasks. -Continue developing algorithms to assess Airman cognitive state via passive brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and evaluating the efficacy of transdermal vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS) to accelerate learning in piloting tasks. -Continue constructing methods to communicate an Airman's cognitive state to AI-enabled technology by developing neural net-based models of cognitive state predictors for lab simulations. -Continue modeling neural patterns associated with enhanced decision-making and evaluating neuromodulation approaches, including quantifying brain changes resulting from chronic tVNS treatments. -Continue evaluating neuromodulation technologies using advanced neuroimaging, including flight tests of commercial neuro-stimulation devices for fatigue mitigation and studies on focused ultrasound. -Continue evaluating new neuromodulation paradigms for cognitive enhancement across Air Force missions, including assessing the effects of commercial devices on sleep metrics.

### Performance Impact of Flight

**FY2027 planned work.** -Continue developing human digital engineering algorithms by back-testing models for cognitive workload, fatigue, and operational stress against collected flight-test data to verify an AFLCMC integration pathway. -Continue enhancing technology for musculoskeletal health by expanding sparse sensing solutions at AETC and Air Combat Command sites to improve pilot retention. -Continue the digital transformation of data infrastructure by integrating contextually rich data from simulated and operational environments to create AI-ready data for model development. -Continue aerospace physiology research by evaluating an aircrew's supervisory control capacity during a simulated human-machine teaming scenario. -Continue the translation of aircrew physiologic response models to live-flight environments by back-testing models for operational environment stressors and high cognitive workloads to refine their integration pathway.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by 0.732 million due to minor programmatic adjustments to the DAF Science and Technology portfolio. The conclusion of dedicated research conducted for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) on aircrew injury assessment and Onboard Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) performance contributes to this decrease.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** -Continue developing human digital engineering algorithms and models for fighter and bomber aircraft design, including testing models for respiratory distress and G-load loss of consciousness against flight-test data. -Continue vetting technology solutions for evaluating musculoskeletal function, including demonstrating sparse, low-cost inertial measurement systems at Air Education and Training Command training sites. -Continue the digital transformation of data infrastructure to create AI-ready data for modeling by implementing real-time synchronization of simulated environmental exposures. -Complete research for Air Force customers on aircrew injury assessment and Onboard Oxygen Generation System performance, delivering reports to Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's (AFLCMC) Fighters, Agile Combat Support, and Engineering Directorates. -Commence aerospace physiology research to evaluate an aircrew's supervisory control capacity during a simulated multi-smart-Autonomous Collaborative Platform command scenario. -Commence the translation of algorithms and models of aircrew neuro-ergonomic responses to live-flight environments for evaluation, refinement, and back-testing.

### Performance Sensing and Assessment

**FY2027 planned work.** - Due to due to re-prioritization to meet the nation's future security needs Performance Sensing and Assessment effort will be completing in FY 2026 and no activities are planned for FY 2027.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by $5.850 million due to the ability to leverage commercial advances in this research area. This reduction reflects programmatic adjustments to the DAF Science and Technology portfolio for strategic realignment to optimize core research areas and improve resource efficiency.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** -Complete rapid biological recognition element selection, including methods to collect and analyze biomarkers in interstitial fluid and sweat. -Complete developing electrochemical and field effect transistor-based biomarker sensing platforms, including wearable and environmental sensors for aircrew during long-duration missions. -Complete optimizing synthetic biology capabilities to deliver biochemical interventions and developing data analytics to identify biosignatures relevant to Air Force and Space Force conditions. -Complete identifying and optimizing bio-molecular mechanisms to sense cognitive function, fatigue, and stress in console operators. -Complete developing data analytics from sensor output to assess operator cognitive status and creating closed-loop platforms that sense human performance degradation and deliver interventions. -Complete integrating sensing and intervention mechanisms, including designing and testing multiplexed sensor systems to simultaneously monitor personal readiness biosignatures.

### Biotechnology for Performance

**FY2027 planned work.** - Due to re-prioritization to meet the nation's future security needs Biotechnology for Performance will be ending in FY 2026 and no expenditures are planned for FY 2027.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by $5.411 million due to ability to leverage commercial advances in this research area. This reduction reflects programmatic adjustments to the DAF Science and Technology portfolio for strategic realignment to optimize core research areas and improve resource efficiency.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** -Complete using advanced bio-data analytics and bioinformatics to analyze biological mechanisms in Airmen, leveraging a large-scale cohort to develop predictive algorithms for physical and cognitive states. -Complete advancing microfluidic "organ-on-a-chip" platforms to simulate multi-organ systems and characterize the neurotoxic effects of chemical and biological exposures. -Complete validation trials of an engineered probiotic designed to mitigate fatigue and enhance cognitive performance, including determining its efficacy in laboratory and controlled field settings.

## What is NOT on this page

Congressional marks, the R-2 mission description and acquisition strategy, the industry vs government split of the whole request, and related program elements are recorded at **program-element** grain — an NDAA mark lands on a PE, never on a project. They are at https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602202F.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-2A/R-3, PE 0602202F project 625328 (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0602202F")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*