In the context of the legacy of past conflict, this article looks at a very specific area of R&D sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) through its Orthopaedic Trauma Research Program (OTRP), which was created in 2006. The OTRP received US$7.5 M in 2006, and US$6.8 M was approved in 2007. Typically, projects selected for grant aid are funded up to an annual ceiling of US$500,000, in six key areas associated with orthopaedic injuries. The article provides brief details of some of the proposals that have been accepted for inclusion in each of these areas.