Women in military and first responder roles face unique challenges that impact sleep, performance, and overall well-being. DREAMS is a national initiative to study these effects and develop data-driven strategies to improve resilience, health, and mission readiness.
The Need:
Women in military and first responder roles face unique health challenges stemming from shift work, physical demands, and high-stress environments, factors that contribute to sleep disruption, fatigue, and reduced cognitive performance. Despite their critical contributions, there is a lack of targeted research and healthcare innovation addressing the physiological and mental health needs of women in these high-risk professions.
The Solution:
With support from Presidential CATALYST funding, this project will launch a national initiative to study the impact of circadian rhythm disruptions on tactical athlete women, focusing on physiological, cognitive, and menstrual health outcomes. The DREAMS (Diet, Exercise, Affect Metabolism, Sleep) protocol will establish the first comprehensive biorepository for this population and develop scalable, data-driven health strategies to enhance resilience, retention, and mission readiness, ultimately promoting diversity and well-being across demanding professions.