Central Texas Veterans Health Care System

Strides in Veterans’ Care through Research Discovery and Collaboration

April 25, 2012

In conjunction with National VA Research Week, April 23-27, 2011, the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS) is hosting a Posters and Presentations session Wednesday, April 25, 2012.  The poster presentation will be on display from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Research Building Conference Room (Building 205) at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center.  Veterans.  Starting at 12:15 p.m., three researchers will briefing discuss their projects and one volunteer research participant will talk about her experience as a Project SERVE (Study Evaluating Returning Veterans’ Experience) participant.  The public is invited.
 
This year’s theme, “Caring for Veterans through Research and Collaboration,” highlights the importance of collaboration between Veterans medical centers around the country  with researchers, academic partners, and other federal agencies to translate research findings into advancements for Veterans’ health care.
 
Central Texas Veterans Health Care System currently has 80 investigators working on 115 research projects.  Research project expenditures for Fiscal Year 2011 were $8.5 million.

The featured speakers are:
• Dr. Ken Baker who will speak about “How to Mend a Broken Heart” (advances in cardiology care).
• Dr. Deborah Little will speak about “Seeing the invisible:  Advances in Assessment of Mild TBI”  (the latest in neuroimaging and genomics)
• Dr. Chetan Jinadatha who will speak about “Microbes—the Ultimate Survivor”  (findings in reducing infectious diseases)
• Ms. Uquay E. Robinson, Project SERVE research participant, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army (Iraq Veteran deployed with the 293rd Military Police Company as a squad leader with over 300 combat missions) will give her perspective as a study participant.

The poster displays will showcase the scientific discoveries from researchers across many disciplines.

The Olin E. Teague Veterans Medical Center is located at 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive in Temple.

Media opportunity in Waco—Thursday, April 26, 2012:
For media outlets unable to attend the April 25 Poster and Presentations event, a one-on-one opportunity is available to speak with a research between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.  For this opportunity, the research participant will be availble by phone.  Media representatives will be able to visit with select members of the VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans.

The VISN 17 Center of Excellence is one of three in the nation dedicated to mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and issues related to recovery and reintegration.

Media wishing to attend should contact Deborah Meyer at (254) 534-0304.