Participating Lab: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR)

Analyzing Pharmacokinetic Data from Models of Hypothermia and Infection

Research Opportunity Location:
San Antonio, TX

Research Opportunity Description:
Pharmacokinetics describes how a drug is processed by the body. Illness or injury often affects this process. This summer project will focus on analyzing and interpreting specific measurements taken from experimental models with hypothermia and infection to determine how these conditions affect how the body processes certain medications such as antibiotics.

Change in metabolic intracellular intermediates after trauma and hemorrhage.

Research Opportunity Location:
San Antonio, TX

Research Opportunity Description:
Trauma and hemorrhage lead to multiple pathological issues that are addressed by the US Army Institute of Surgical Research. We will be measuring the changes in intracellular intermediates after trauma and hemorrhage in red blood cells, platelets and various tissues in humans and rats. These studies look for biomarkers that can be used to identify emerging pathologies that occur after trauma and hemorrhage.

Closed loop control of mechanical ventilation for combat casualties

Research Opportunity Location:
San Antonio, TX

Research Opportunity Description:
The student will work as part of a multidisciplinary team including engineers, clinicians, and medical researchers that is developing a closed loop controller for automated control of mechanical ventilation. We will tailor the experience to the student’s interests by allowing them to choose which part of the project to support, including working with medical simulation and control theory to design, test, and implement closed loop control of mechanical ventilation.

Effects of radiation exposure on human and rat cells

Research Opportunity Location:
San Antonio, TX

Research Opportunity Description:
The project would involve our genomics research and would involve using RT-PCR to validate targets of interest found by NextGen sequencing.

Evaluation of Physiological Parameters in Pre-Clinical Trauma Models

Research Opportunity Location:
San Antonio, TX

Research Opportunity Description:
My lab focuses on predicting/detecting, preventing, and treating infections and sepsis using swine models. The incidence of infection and sepsis is expected to increase in future conflicts. Currently there is a lack of far-forward capability to detect and diagnose sepsis. We are in the process of establishing a swine model of sepsis that can be used as a testing platform to evaluate new diagnostic technologies.

Investigation of Local Anesthetics Mechanisms at the Cellular and Molecular Levels

Research Opportunity Location:
San Antonio, TX

Research Opportunity Description:
Despite widespread clinical use of local anesthetics, the precise mechanisms of anesthetic action are not fully understood. In terms of physiological action, a broad mechanism of local anesthetics including binding to ion channels to inhibit the generation and conduction of neurotransmission resulting in reduction of pain signals have been documented. However, how anesthetics affect different non-neuronal cell types and to which specific proteins they interact with remains to be established. In this project, the student will have an opportunity to explore common anesthetics such as bupivacaine and ropivacaine mechanisms in glial and macrophage cells using state of art in vitro techniques. Investigation of Local Anesthetics Mechanisms at the Cellular and Molecular Levels.

Maintaining Organ Function and Survival During Prolonged Casualty Care

Research Opportunity Location:
San Antonio, TX

Research Opportunity Description:
Development of an “oxygen cocktail” that can be delivered at the point of injury to improve both oxygen and energy supplies despite a low blood pressure.

Novel therapeutics to improve topical wound healing

Research Opportunity Location:
San Antonio, TX

Research Opportunity Description:
The type and severity of injuries incurred on the battlefield is constantly evolving. This may be due to more advanced weaponry or a battlefield environment that has not yet been seen before. In the same manner, the way these injuries are treated must also evolve, to effectively treat the Warfighter. This Summer research opportunity makes use of large animal models of injury, specifically burn injury, and investigates how field-deployable therapies can aid in wound healing and Warfighter return-to-duty.

Investigation of novel therapuetics to improve cognitive function after blast and radiation exposure

Research Opportunity Location:
San Antonio, TX

Research Opportunity Description:
The goal of this study is to understand the effects of blast and radiation on brain function. Blast exposure is a well-known cause of traumatic brain injury. Radiation exposure is also known to cause damage to the brain. In the event of a nuclear explosion, victims may be exposed to both blast and radiation simultaneously, therefore they may receive more severe brain damage as a result. This study will investigate novel therapuetics to improve cognitive function after blast and radiation exposure. Brain function will be tested in rats with three different tests that measure learning and memory. Brain function tests will be conducted on the rats before and after exposure to blast, radiation, or blast plus radiation.