RR&D Research Career Scientist Award

Louis Stokes Cleveland Va Medical Center, Cleveland OH

Investigators

Abstract

The over-arching goal of my research activity is to develop and evaluate novel clinically-focused approaches to reduce the fear of developing chronic non-healing wounds and associated secondary health complications. I am a Research Career Scientist in the RR&D Service of the US Department of Veterans Affairs and dually appointed as Professor of Orthopaedics and Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. Active interdisciplinary clinical studies include determination of personalized pressure injury (PrI) risk based on identification of novel biomarkers. A current VA Merit Review project is investigating the factors driving recurrent PrI in persons with SCI. We have found that persons with recurrent PrI have upregulated activity in genomic variants associated with fatty acid metabolism. This paradigm shift in primary PrI prevention was recognized with a 2nd place Best Oral Talk Award from the American Spinal Injury Association in 2022. These findings also provide the foundation for development of a point-of-care technology to rapidly identify individuals at increased risk of recurrent PrI based on a novel reverse-transcription LAMP platform. Current technology development studies include of development the flexSTIM, biomimetic flexible novel implanted pattern generator for dynamic intermittent gluteal stimulation (iGSTIM) enabling regular exercise and weight-shifting. iGSTIM impacts fundamental challenges in PrI prevention and musculoskeletal heath for Veterans with SCI, particularly those who cannot perform independent pressure relief and those with poor muscle quality. A VA Translational Rehabilitation Research Award: Stage 1 (TRRA-1) is supporting the next steps in delivering this VA research discovery to a new treatment for Veterans with reduced mobility. Unfortunately, chronic wounds still continue to occur all too frequently. The VA patented exciflex wearable programmable, electroceutical bandage significantly increases wound closure rates and decreases infection enabling safe and smart delivery of electrotherapy outside traditional clinical settings. A clinical feasibility study is underway and will provide a strong foundation for delivery of personalized adaptive electrotherapy using exciflex, so that our Veterans will benefit from the most recent advances in wound healing science. My approach to translational technology includes 10 issued patents, including one European patent, together with 4 pending US patents, 7 pending PCT patents and 3 recent invention disclosures. I have over 20 years continuous funding from the VA Rehabilitation Service, DoD SCI Research Program, the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. In recognition of the significance of my research, I was elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2021, recognized for outstanding contributions to wound biotechnology development and patient-centered pressure injury management. I have over published 80 papers, chapters and reviews, including 22 peer-reviewed manuscripts that were published during my most recent period of Research Career Scientist support. I have served for 16 years as a member of the local IRB and served as a member of the Advisory Committee for the VISN8 Patient Safety Center of Inquiry in addition to serving on multiple VA and NIH grant review panels. I am working with the VA Office of Nursing Services to set up a Interprofessional Pressure Injury Research Roundtable and am also active in leading professional organizations in my field including the Wound Healing Society (Chair of the Education Committee) and the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (Board of Directors). I am Editor-in- Chief for the Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering. My professional goals during the upcoming renewal period of my Research Career Scientist Award are to continue to develop and implement translational team science research in the underrecognized area of chronic wound management and to mentor emerging leaders in the field, enabling novel solutions and personalized primary prevention for the most susceptible individuals within the high-risk population of Veterans.