Featured Research Highlight #7: CMCVAMC Research Week: One Team One Mission

2021 VA RESEARCH WEEK CELEBRATION AT THE CMCVAMC: ONE TEAM ONE MISSION

Overview: To open research week experts from across the CMCVAMC departments were brought together to give updates on their progress and work, and to acknowledge Dr. Pierre Conti and Dr. Dave Oslin for their distinguished work.

Purpose: While each department and lab vary in their field of interest and expertise, all research staff at the CMCVAMC are part of one team and share the same mission to better Veteran health and well-being.

Results: Introductory remarks were given by the chief of staff Dr. John Kelly and associate chief of staff Dr. Kyong-Mi Chang reviewing the broader progress of CMCVAMC research, including the millions of dollars in new grant funding and operational progress adopting new tools in research. After introductory remarks, four more sessions were held with expert speakers from four broad areas: Research Operations, Basic & Translational Lab Research, Health Services Research & Data Science, and Clinical Research.

In the research operations session, three talks were given. Harry Maxwell described the progress and purpose of the Veterans Community Advisory Board (VCAB) on bringing veterans’ opinions into research. Richard Moore on supporting research from an administrative perspective. Lastly, Tinsesar Forrest the executive director of the Philadelphia Research and Education Foundation (PREF) presented on the role of PREF in supporting the CMCVAMC’s research and it’s growth this last year.

The basic & translational lab research session included updates on Musculoskeletal Health & Disease research (Dr. Mauck & Dr. Scanzello), Neurological Health & Disease (Dr. Cullen & Morley), and basic research in SARS-CoV-2 (Dr. Cohen).

In the Health Services Research & Data Science session talks were given on Health Disparity & Health Services Research in 2021 (Dr. Groeneveld), Implementing Age-Friendly Health Systems in VISN4 (Dr. Burke), and Genomic Science and the VA’s Million Veteran Program (Dr. Damrauer & Dr. Kranzler).

Lastly, in the Clinical Research session talks were given on the Clinical Research Center at the CMCVAMC (Dr. Baker), Clinical Research on COVID (Dr. Isaacs), Cancer Research with the PCF Center of Excellence and NCI SWOG (Dr. Robinson & Dr. Wong), Liver Disease Research (Dr. Kaplan), and lastly Behavioral Health Research from Dr. David Oslin. Dr. Oslin was also later honored for his contributions to VA clinical research and for receiving the VA CSR&D Barnwell Award.

How does this impact Veterans?: Research week will help better interdepartmental communication within CMCVAMC research, and focus on our shared mission of bettering Veteran health and care.