Current Research Highlights/News & Results

CDMRP Milestones & Scientific Discoveries

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Disorders:

• N-acetylcysteine Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder in Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis:

• ALS “Disease in a Dish” Creates Opportunities for Advanced Motor Neuron and Therapeutic Drug Screening
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Treatment, AT-1501, Enters Clinical Trial
• Treatment Spotlight: Q&A with ALSRP Investigator Dr. Sytske Moolenaar
• Targeting miR-155 in Peripheral Monocytes for the Treatment of ALS
• The Petrucelli group creates mice that model the most common cause of ALS and FTD
• Development of Copper ATSM as a Therapeutic for SOD-Familial and Sporadic ALS

Autism:

• Facilitating the Transition to Employment for Young Adult Military Dependents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cognitive Enhancement Therapy: A Promising Approach for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Understanding the Consequences of Aging in Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Maternal Brain-Reactive Antibodies and Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Altered Placental Tryptophan Metabolism: A Crucial Molecular Pathway for the Fetal Programming of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Risk Factors, Comorbid Conditions, and Epidemiology of Children with Autism in Military Families

Bone Marrow Failure:

• A Method for Rescuing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Functions in Fanconi Anemia
• A Novel Therapy for Targeting Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Diseases
• The Role of U2AF1 Mutations in the Pathogenesis of Myelodysplastic Syndromes
• Signaling Pathways in the Pathogenesis of Diamond Blackfan Anemia
• Translational Control in Bone Marrow Failure

Breast Cancer:

• Blocking CXCR4 Reduces Tumor Fibrosis and Sensitizes Metastatic Breast Cancer to Immunotherapy
• Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Produced During Inflammation Awaken Dormant Cancer Cells
• Reprogramming the Pro-Tumorigenic Immune Microenvironment to Anti-Tumorigenic in Breast Cancer
• RANKL/RANK Control BRCA1 Mutation-Driven Mammary Tumors
• Therapeutic Antibody Targeting Tumor- and Osteoblastic Niche-Derived Jagged1 Sensitizes Bone Metastasis to Chemotherapy
• The Link Between Chromosomal Instability and Metastatic Progression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
• Imaging Agent, Flurodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG), Transforms Chemotherapeutics into Phototherapy for Precise Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer
• Atf3 in Non-Cancer Host Cells is Linked to Chemotherapy-Enhanced Metastasis in Breast Cancer
• Her2 and TrkB as Dual Therapy Targets for Her2+ Breast Cancer Brain Metastases
• Targeting the Cytoskeletal Physics of Circulating Breast Tumor Cells to Reduce Metastasis
• Uncovering a New Pathway to Target and Treat Breast Cancer Metastasis
• The Multifunctional Transcription Factor, TRIM25, Drives Breast Cancer Metastasis
• RON kinase: A Target for Treatment of Cancer-Induced Bone Destruction and Osteoporosis
• CDK4/6 Inhibition Triggers Antitumor Immunity
• The Flare Behind Tumor Imaging to Rapidly Measure Breast Cancer Response to Therapy
• Microenvironments and Signaling Pathways Regulating Early Dissemination, Dormancy, and Metastasis
• Detection of HER2-Positive Metastases in Patients with HER2-Negative Primary Breast Cancer
• Breast Cancer Geneticist Awarded 2017 Breakthrough Prize
• Prediction of Metastasis Using Second Harmonic Generation

Defense Medical Research and Development:

• Remote Anger and Stress Management (M-SAT)
• Adapting SmartPhones for Ocular Diagnosis
• Closed Loop Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA): The Battlefield Anesthetic of the Future
• Understanding the Protective Effects of Cellular Prion Protein (PrP^C) and Cell Death Protease Inhibition for Treating TBI
• Military Suicide Research Consortium: Recent Accomplishments from Cutting-Edge Studies
• Smart Oxygen Monitors to Diagnose and Treat Cardiopulmonary Injuries
• Identification and Validation of Novel Therapeutic Targets for Traumatic Brain Injury
• Army Medicine Opens the Door for Vision Prosthetic Prototypes
• Novel Detection of Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Characterization of a Model of Blast-induced Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

• Military Infectious Diseases Research Program (JPC-2)

  • Novel Antimicrobial Peptides as Topical Anti-Infectives Against Combat-Related Bacterial and Fungal Wound Infections
  • A Novel, Broad Spectrum Anti-Infective that Provides Novel Regenerative Properties in Skin
  • Development of Novel Kinocidin-Based Anti-Infective Therapeutics
  • Preclinical Development of an Antimicrobial Nanoemulsion to Investigational New Drug for Multidrug-Resistant Wound Infections
  • Fighting the Insect War: Containing Vector-Borne Disease and Strengthening Our Military Overseas
  • Rapid Diagnostics for Multidrug Resistant Organisms in Combat-Related Infection
  • Development of a Novel, Antimicrobial Skin Substitute for Burn Patients
  • Fighting Bacteria with Bacteria: Controlling Wound Infections with Predatory Bacteria
  • Next Generation Antimicrobial Wound Dressings to Reduce Infection and Promote Wound Healing

• Military Operational Medicine Research Program (JPC-5)

  • 2018 San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference Draws Record Attendance, Delivers a Powerful Program
  • Open house event celebrates the partnership between STRONG STAR and CRDAMC, a key collaboration in furthering the treatment of PTSD
  • Toward a Gold Standard for Suicide Risk Assessment for Military Personnel
  • Texting: A Brief Intervention to Prevent Suicidal Ideation and Behavior
  • Development and Evaluation of Veteran Supportive Supervisor Training (VSST): Improving Transition for Veterans in the Workplace
  • Improvement and Extension of Auditory Hazard Models

• Combat Casualty Care Research Program (JPC-6)

  • CN-105, a Prophylactic Neuroprotectant Against Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Novel Prosurvival Strategies Enhance Prolonged Field Care

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

• AAV Vectors, A Step Toward Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Clinical Trials
• Preclinical Testing of a Novel Method to Block TGFbeta Family Proteins in DMD

Epilepsy

• Dr. Karen Parko - Resolving the Connection Between TBIs and Epilepsy

Gulf War Illness:

• GWI Common Data Elements Initiative
• The Gulf War Illness Clinical Trials and Interventions Consortium and the Boston Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network for GWI
• Alabama initiative for Veteran-based research

Hearing Restoration:

• Addressing Both Immediate Needs and Long-Term Consequences
• Addressing Research Gaps for Our Veterans
• Confronting the Challenges of Hearing Loss: A Veteran's Perspective
• Advancing Effective Hearing Restoration Therapies

Lung Cancer:

• Is It Really Cancer? Developing a CT-Based Classifier for Indeterminate Nodules Detected by Lung Cancer Screening
• A New NSAID Shows Promise for the Prevention of Lung Cancer
• Competing for RAS – Understanding KRAS and the Effects of Its Interactions for Potential Lung Adenocarcinoma Treatment
• Antidiabetic Drugs Are a Potential Solution to Some Treatment-Resistant Tumors
• Cancer Interception: Inducing Metabolic Crisis as a Form of Treatment during Lung Carcinogenesis
• The Search for a Biomarker Reveals Mechanisms of Treatment Resistance and New Approaches to Restore Effectiveness for Targeted Therapies
• Detecting Lung Cancer in the Blood Stream: A Successful Validation of a Highly Sensitive Blood-Based Biomarker for Lung Cancer
• The Cancer Moonshot Program: APOLLO and LCRP’s Lung Cancer Biospecimen Resource Network
• The Role of the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer Metastasis and Chemotherapy Resistance
• Fostering Collaboration Leads to Early Detection Breakthroughs in Lung Cancer
• Genetic Implications and Novel Targets for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Genetic Determinants of Lung Cancer Subtype: Adenocarcinoma to Small Cell Conversion
• Identification of a New Biomarker for Lung Cancer Tumor Aggression Points to Promising New Therapies
• Functional Assessment of Patient-Derived Models of Acquired Drug Resistance Identifies a New Drug Combination for EGFR Mutant Lung Cancer

Melanoma:

• Targeting Increased Polyamine Transport of Resistant Melanomas
• Central Tolerance Blockade to Augment Checkpoint Immunotherapy in Melanoma

Military Burn:

• Modulation of Burn Scars Through Laser Assisted Delivery of Stem Cells
• Improving the Prognosis of Soldiers with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
• Clinical Therapeutic Applications of Epinephrine and Vitamin-E Supplements to Treat Burn Patients

Multiple Sclerosis:

• Sensory-Motor and Cognitive-Motor Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis: A Mobile Brain-Body Imaging Investigation
• Using Reprogrammed Stem Cells as a Therapy for MS
• Link Between Alterations in the Gut Microbiota and Multiple Sclerosis
• Developing a Promising New Target in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
• Using Advanced MRI Tools to Develop Novel Assessments of Cognition in MS Patients
• In Vivo Imaging of Cortical Inflammation and Subpial Pathology in Multiple Sclerosis by Combined PET and MRI

Neurofibromatosis:

• Cerebellopontine Angle (CPA) Model: A Novel Tool for Investigating Immunotherapy in Neurofibromatosis Type 2 Vestibular Schwannomas
• Gaining Momentum Through Innovation and Recruitment
• Fiscal Year 2017 New Investigator Award Recipients
• Bench to Bedside - Collaborating to Develop Effective Therapies for NF
• Pathophysiology and Treatment of Muscle Weakness in NF1
• Identification of Molecular and Cellular Contributions to Neurofibroma Formation and Growth
• Fiscal Year 2016 New Investigator Award Recipients
• Potential Therapeutics for Neurofibromatosis Type 2-Associated Schwannoma Tumors
• Confronting the Challenge of Neurofibromatosis
• Identification of Novel Therapeutic Targets for NF1 Optic Pathway Glioma by Examining the Tumor as an Ecosystem
• Decreasing the Clinical Impact of Neurofibromatosis – New Clinical Trials Funded Through the Neurofibromatosis Research Program
• Deletion of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase improves cognitive impairments in a mouse model of Neurofibromatosis Type 1
• Study Finds that Lovastatin is Not Effective for Treating Learning or Attention Impairments in Children with NF1
• Opioid Receptor Signaling Crosstalk to Ras Protein is Mediated by Neurofibromin 1
• FY15 New Investigator Award Recipients
• Finding New Targets for Treatment of NF2-Deficient Meningiomas
• Combined mTORC1 and MEK Inhibition Leads to Regression of NF1-Mutant Cancers

Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes:

• A Novel Prosthetic Foot Designed to Maximize Functional Abilities, Health Outcomes, and Quality of Life in People with Transtibial Amputation
• SpringActive Odyssey Ruggedized Ankle Prosthesis
• Improving the Control of Powered Lower Limb Prostheses

Ovarian Cancer:

• A Collaborative Effort has Uncovered Novel Therapies to Treat an Aggressive Form of Ovarian Cancer That is Unresponsive to Standard Treatment
• BRCA in Ovarian Cancer: Understanding the Risk and Finding New Means of Treatment
• A Multi-Institutional Approach to Understanding the Pathology of Ovarian Cancer
• A More Reliable Personalized Medicine-Based Approach to Test Ovarian Cancer Drugs
• Cyclin E1 as a Therapeutic Target for High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
• The Impact of the Ovarian Cancer Academy Is Long-Lasting and Far-Reaching
• Investigation of a Novel PET Tracer to Assess PARP Inhibitor Sensitivity in Ovarian Cancer Patients
• Expert Highlights Immunotherapy Potential in Ovarian Cancer
• Evaluation of DNA Repair Function as a Predictor of Response in a Clinical Trial of PARP Inhibitor Monotherapy for Recurrent Ovarian Carcinoma
• Towards Understanding Ovarian Cancer Progression and Chemotherapy Resistance
• Chip-Based Magnetic Imager for Molecular Profiling of Ovarian Cancer Cells
• The Clinical Development Award: Accelerating Ovarian Cancer Research into Clinical Application
• Combination Therapy of JO-c and PEGylated Liposomal Doxorubicin/DoxilT^TM in Ovarian Cancer Patients
• Providing Hope: Increasing Long-Term Survivorship of Ovarian Cancer Patients
• Genetic Modifiers of Ovarian Cancer Risk in BRCA1 Mutation Carriers
• Optical Imaging Falloposcope for Minimally Invasive Ovarian Cancer Detection
• Ubiquitin-Mediated Protein Degradation Pathways for Ovarian Cancer Treatment
• Repurposing FDA-Approved Drug as a Potential Metastasis Inhibitor for Ovarian Cancer Treatment
• Therapeutic Strategies against Cyclin E1-Amplified Ovarian Cancers

Parkinson's:

• Dr. Angus Nairn - Proteomic Methods for Analyzing Protein in Dopaminergic Neurons
• Remembering Dr. Robert Burke: A Pioneer in Neuro-restorative Approaches to Treating Parkinson's Disease
• Dr. Andrew Singleton - Aging Whole-Genome Sequencing in Parkinson’s Disease
• Dr. Kenneth Marek - Evaluating the Natural History of Prodromal PD in the PARS Cohort
• Dr. Caroline Tanner Video - Persistent Organic Pollutants and Parkinson’s disease in Native Populations of Hawaii and Alaska
• Dr. Paul Greengard Video - New P11 Biomarker Predicts Clinical Effectiveness of Antidepressant Drugs
• Alpha-synuclein: Promising molecular test for Parkinson's disease
• PRP PI Honored at the White House as a 'Champion of Change'

Peer Reviewed Alzheimer's:

• Collaborating on Military Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

Peer Reviewed Cancer:

• Turning the Heat up on Cancer: Combining Heat and Immunotherapy to Better Treat Bladder Cancer
• Targeting Increased Polyamine Transport of Resistant Melanomas
• Central Tolerance Blockade to Augment Checkpoint Immunotherapy in Melanoma
• IN FOCUS: Research in Cancers in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
• Neural Proteins Implicated in Pancreatic Cancer Desmoplasia
• IN FOCUS: Brain Tumor Research Funding
• IN FOCUS: BLADDER CANCER
• Exposing a Silent Killer: Dr. Arti Shukla Studies Methods for Early Detection of Mesothelioma
• In Focus: Melanoma Research Funding
• Advancing Our Understanding of How to Reduce the Risk of Developing Blood Cancer After Radiation Exposure
• An Improved Toolset for Pancreatic Cancer Research
• Investigating the Link between Cancer Formation and Cell Reprogramming
• IN FOCUS: STOMACH CANCER RESEARCH FUNDING
• IN FOCUS: LIVER CANCER RESEARCH FUNDING
• Giving Mesothelioma the One-Two Punch
• Discovering novel therapeutic strategies to treat kidney cancer
• Targeting Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Signaling Pathways in Mesothelioma
• Identification of Novel RNA Editing Biomarkers of Human Leukemia Stem Cell Generation
• Linking Observed Mutations from Pediatric Brain Tumors to Mechanisms That May Drive Tumorigenesis
• Understanding Inflamation and Its Link to Colorectal Cancer

Peer Reviewed Medical:

• Taking Ideas From Discovery to the Clinic
• Improving Medical Care for Service Members and Their Families
• Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation as a Therapeutic Agent for Multiple Sclerosis
• Adoptive Cellular Therapy Targeting Recurrent Pediatric Brain Cancers
• Guiding Therapeutic Decisions for Patients Using microRNA Biomarkers
• Developing a Fingerprint for Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression
• Making a difference in congenital heart disease
• Engineering Immunotherapies for Mesothelioma and Other Solid Tumors

Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic:

• Focusing on Optimal Recovery and Restoration for our Servicemembers
• Neuroma/Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Educational Highlight
• Development of a High-Performance, Adaptable Prosthetic Socket for Amputees
• Experimental PEG Fusion Medical Device for Immediate Physiological Recovery After Peripheral Nerve Injury
• Development of an Active Cooling System for Improving Residual Limb Skin Care
• New Large Animal Model to Study Treatment for PTOA
• siRNA Delivery to Stem Cells in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis
• Providing upper-extremity prosthetic device users with functionality and flexibility

Prostate Cancer:

• Revolutionizing prostate cancer imaging with collagen hybridizing peptide
• Assessment of Biospecimen Needs of the Prostate Cancer Research Community
• The PROPHECY Study Validates the Use of Two AR-V7 Biomarker Assays for Predicting Hormone Therapy Resistance in Men with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
• NEK6 mediates castration resistance in prostate cancer in vivo
• LSD1: a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for prostate cancer
• Assessment of Biospecimen Needs of the Prostate Cancer Research Community
• Deconvoluting the Complexity of Bone Metastatic Prostate Cancer via Computational Modeling
• Combining Metformin with Androgen Deprivation Therapy to Treat Advanced Prostate Cancer
• Clinical Implications for Long Non-coding RNAs in Prostate Cancer
• CDK12 loss is a distinct immunogenic class of advanced prostate cancer
• Autonomic Nerves Drive Prostate Cancer Growth, Invasion, and Metastasis
• Inhibition of ACK1 to Overcome Drug Resistance in Prostate Cancer
• A Relationship Between Mast Cells and Racial Disparity of Prostate Cancer
• Chimeric Amino Acid Rearrangements as Immune Targets in Prostate Cancer
• Dr. Bettina Drake Video - Prostate Cancer Outcomes in VA Hospitals
• Noninvasive Detection of AR-FL/AR-V7 as a Predictive Biomarker for Therapeutic Resistance in Men with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
• Circulating tumor cell analysis as a treatment-specific biomarker for prostate cancer
• Targeting the Aberrant Androgen Receptor in Advanced Treatment-Resistant Prostate Cancer
• Statin use may increase survival in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy
• Cooperativity between Oncogenic PKC Epsilon and Pten Loss in Prostate Cancer

Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury:

• Effect of Prolonged Exposure Therapy on PTSD Symptom Severity in Military Personnel
• Predicting Generalized Anxiety Among Military Couples Following Deployment
• A Military-Relevant Model of Closed Concussive Head Injury: Longitudinal Studies Characterizing and Validating Single and Repetitive mTBI
• Genetic and Environmental Predictors of Combat-Related PTSD/The STRONG STAR Multidisciplinary PTSD Research Consortium
• The TBI Endpoints Development (TED) Initiative Advances Multidisciplinary Research Efforts to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment of TBI
• THE NCAA-DOD GRAND ALLIANCE: Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education Consortium (CARE)
• TEAM-TBI: a Precision Medicine Approach for TBI
• CENC Researchers Blaze a Trail to New Insights in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
• The INjury and TRaumatic STress (INTRuST) Clinical Consortium Neuroimaging Leadership Core
• Operation Brain Trauma Therapy: Consortium Identifies Promising New Treatments and Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury
• The INjury and TRaumatic STress (INTRuST) Clinical Consortium Brings Together Scientists to Further Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Research
• Treatment of Adult Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Using Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells
• Treatment of TBI with Hormonal and Pharmacological Support, Preclinical Validation Using Diffuse and Mechanical TBI Animal Models
• Building a Family Systems Model to Promote Adherence to PTSD Treatment
• Is telemedicine-delivered therapy as effective as treatment delivered at the clinic?
• Defining the Impact of Group Therapy on Treating PTSD in Active Military Personnel

Reconstructive Transplant Research

• Reconstructive Transplant Research Program (RTRP) Request for Information (RFI)
• Developing Therapeutic Reagents to Accelerate the Rate of Peripheral Nerve Growth after Reconstructive Transplantation
• Improving Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Vascularized Composite Tissue Allotransplantation via Histone Deacetylase Modulation
• T-Regulatory Cell-Based Therapies Promote Survival of Vascularized Composite Allografts
• Biomarkers to Predict Rejection in Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation
• Utilizing Vascularized Bone to Improve Outcomes of Face Transplantation

Spinal Cord Injury:

• Directing Spinal Cord Plasticity: The Impact of Stretch Therapy on Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury
• A Randomized, Crossover Clinical Trial of Exoskeletal-Assisted Walking to Improve Mobility, Bowel Function and Cardio-Metabolic Profiles in Persons with SCI
• Restoring Proprioception via a Cortical Prosthesis: A Novel Learning-Based Approach
• Managing the acute spinal cord injury
• Introducing the FY15 Spinal Cord Injury Research Program Portfolio
• An Implantable Neuroprosthetic Device to Normalize Bladder Function after Spinal Cord Injury
• Experiences of Living with Pain after a Spinal Cord Injury

Tick-Borne Disease:

• Lyme Disease Awareness Month - Spotlight on TBDRP FY17 Lyme Disease Initiatives

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex:

• Metabolic Imaging Biomarkers for TSC
• Repurposing FDA-Approved Drugs to Treat Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
• Gene Therapy, a New Approach to Treating TSC
• Topical Rapamycin Therapy to Alleviate Cutaneous Manifestations of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
• Modeling TSC and LAM Using Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
• A Novel Model Provides Insight into Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
• A Promising Early Intervention for TSC linked Autism in Infants
• Building Protein Network Models of Epilepsy to Find New Treatments in TSC
• Understanding the Mechanisms of Disease Leads to Potential New Treatments for TSC-related LAM
• Identifying the Roots of Myelin Dysfunction in the TSC Brain
• Inflammation and Epilepsy in TSC
• Targeting Amino Acid-mTORC1 Signaling for Treatment of TSC
• Loss of Tsc2 and Increased mTORC1 Signaling in Excitatory Neurons Lead to Complex Abnormalities
• TSC-FoxO Signaling Network in Kidney Cancer Development

Vision:

• USC Team Captures Valuable User Feedback from Military Medical Personnel regarding Novel Reversible Adhesive to Manage Ocular Trauma
• Computational Modeling of Primary Blast Injury to the Eye
• A Retinal Prosthetic with the Capacity to Produce Normal Vision

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