Center for Combat Medicine and Battlefield Research hosts Rep. Crow to highlight Defense Health Research

U.S. Representative Jason Crow toured the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus on Monday to learn about ongoing campus programs and research that meet the medical needs of the U.S. military, including solutions in combat casualty care, critical and emergency care, surgical trauma and acute mental health. The Center for Combat Medicine and Battlefield Research (COMBAT) hosted the visit which included other UC leadership and research groups for a supportive discussion of current military medical challenges.

The visit with Crow, who is a former Army Ranger and current member of the Armed Service Committee, underscored the importance of creating breakthrough science that provides critical care for service members on and off the field of battle.

COMBAT leadership, including Col. Vik Bebarta, MD, and Brigadier General (Retired) Kathleen Flarity, DNP, PhD, helped guide the discussion during the visit and provided Crow with updates on the progress being made by the center in recent years.

“Our work exists to change policies and practices that benefit both the military and civilian communities, so we are grateful that the center’s mission aligns with Rep. Crow’s broader vision and area of ​​interest in security. nationwide,” says Bebarta, director of COMBAT and professor of emergency medicine at the UC School of Medicine.

Raising groundbreaking science to save lives

Crow visited two labs that showcased the direct impact research can have on combat and civilian medical care, both of which focus on trauma solutions.

The Translational Research, Innovation and Development of Antidotes (TRIAD) team discussed their research evaluating alternative routes of administration of FDA-approved drugs that have been shown to reduce bleeding and the relevance of this work for military and civilian trauma patients. Identifying an effective drug delivery route that is easy to administer by first responders or bystanders with minimal or no training can reduce the need for blood transfusions, which improves patient outcomes and ultimately account, saves lives.

“Through our research, we hope to bring evidence-based and real-world approaches to the military and local community,” says Tara Hendry-Hofer, MSN, RN, program manager for TRIAD.

Mitchell Cohen, MD, professor of surgery and principal investigator at the Trauma Research Center, led Crow in his lab, which uses a multidisciplinary approach to trauma-induced coagulopathy and inflammation to reduce morbidity and mortality in people with severe injured. The Trauma Research Center is a leader in trauma resuscitation. Cohen and the surgical residents shared how physical trauma can damage the endothelium of blood vessels and cause vascular leakage, which can damage the lungs and kidneys.

Amplify current research for accelerated military support

Joining John J Reilly Jr., MD, dean of the CU School of Medicine; Thomas Flaig, MD, vice chancellor for research at CU Anschutz Medical Campus; CU Regent Ilana Dubin Spiegel; Robert McIntyre, MD, professor of surgery; Lieutenant Commander Ian Eisenhauer, MC, USN, emergency medicine researcher; and Captain Matt Paulson, COMBAT specialist.

Bebarta discussed COMBAT’s operational research and deployment model, which focuses on supporting service members at every stage of deployment to meet their urgent medical challenges. Adit Ginde, MD, MPH, Principal Investigator for Airway, Trauma, Lung Injury and Sepsis Research (ATLAS), shared research on oxygen conservation tactics for trauma patients, the sepsis-induced hypotension and airway intubation.

Julia Dixon, MD, MPH, co-investigator for the C3 Global Trauma Network: Cape-Colorado-Combat, provided insight into global impact and military collaboration, and Emmy Betz, MD, MPH, director of the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative, presented on ongoing projects related to veteran mental health.

Discussions and presentations led Crow to speak about his concerns about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and his critical trauma needs, which highlights the importance of COMBAT’s research to improving care on today’s battlefields. and future for large-scale combat operations.

Strengthening partnerships

With current partnerships with the Defense Health Agency, Department of Defense, active duty military commands, hospitals and industry partners, COMBAT plans to continue conversations with Crow about collaboration and expanding the research to save lives in combat and civilian communities.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to share the high-impact work of our academic investigators with Representative Crow and look forward to continuing to be the leader in solving current and future U.S. military medical challenges,” said Bebarta.