Bria Morse

Bria Morse is a PhD candidate in aeronautics and astronautics whose research aims to enhance knowledge of the impacts of patient transport via ground and air on human physiology. Increased use of unmanned or remotely operated vehicles for casualty transport from combat zones and disaster areas is anticipated, yet the impacts of such transport on the body are not well understood. As a MathWorks Fellow, Bria will study the impact of transport-related stressors, such as acceleration force and vibration, on a hemorrhaging patient. Her project has two primary aims: 1) to isolate key environmental and physiological parameters for influencing decision-making in transport environments, and 2) to determine the dose-response effect of patient severity and key transport parameters on patient stability using a novel lower-body negative pressure chamber and custom vacuum to simulate hemorrhage in a dynamic transport environment. MATLAB and Simulink will be important resources for data visualization and analysis. Bria’s research has the potential to provide a fuller understanding of the impacts of casualty transport via unmanned or remotely operated vehicles to improve patient outcomes and save lives.