Biomedical Sciences Section
The Biomedical Sciences Section employs professionals in biomarker research, informatics, system and database administration, and health information management. It focuses on generating, collecting, analyzing, and securing aeromedically relevant data, as well as making data and interpretations available to appropriate parties. Data sources include scientific Human Subjects Research studies, aviation accident investigations, and aviation accident autopsies. This data is used to assess the impact of various environmental or behavioral factors, extant health conditions, and health information as determined by autopsy on human and aviator performance. The intended outcome is to improve aviation safety by providing relevant data, research, and trend analysis to inform aviation safety decision making and risk analysis. Three teams work to accomplish these missions, the Autopsy team, the Performance Informatics team, and the Knowledge Management Resource team.
Autopsy Team
The Autopsy team provides expertise in aviation accident and incident surveillance, data collection and quality assurance, and health information management. The team monitors U.S. aviation accidents, incidents, and incapacitations daily and collects accurate event information from federal, state, and local authorities. Relevant events and data are provided to FAA and NTSB aviation safety and medical professionals for action, trend analysis, and research. Autopsy data is coordinated, acquired, and distributed to investigators and medical reviewers for fatal aviation events. For nonfatal aviation events, the team distributes information for Regional Flight Surgeons to determine if the event may influence current or future flight eligibility. Databases maintained by the team are used for medical safety assurance by Office of Aerospace Medicine and the AAM Safety Council. The team supports additional FAA aviation safety activities by providing expert guidance in data queries, analysis, and health information matters.
Data Requests: For research purposes, non-PII Autopsy data may be requested by consultation with the team, and management approval. The team may be contacted at the address below for such requests.
Aviation Accident Autopsy Information: One of the Federal Aviation Administration's missions is to prevent and reduce deaths and injuries resulting from aircraft accidents. To accomplish this mission, aviation accident autopsies are performed at the request of the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge or of FAA officials, in accordance with the NTSB and FAA’s statutory authority. The autopsies are performed by local medical examiners or coroners with jurisdiction over the accident site, and autopsy reports from those autopsies, including applicable external toxicology and other testing as available, are respectfully requested for aeromedical investigation purposes. Accordingly, if an autopsy is performed, we respectfully request a copy of the report be forwarded to the contact information below.
Additional Information
Knowledge Management Resources Team
The Knowledge Management Resource team supports and manages the data and application software and hardware used in AAM-600 research and scientific activities. Coordinating with the FAA’s Office of Information & Technology (AIT) and the FAA’s Office of Finance & Management (AFN), the team maintains AAM-600’s Cyber Security and Information Security required by FAA Orders and Policy. The team provides and coordinates services in acquisition and inventory of division research and scientific computing assets, application and database development, and training as requested.