Current Research

P. Gunnar Brolinson, D.O.

Mild traumatic brain injury is a significant among student athletes in sports, especially on the football field. Dr. Gunnar Brolinson, Associate Dean for Clinical Research, is conducting collaborative research with the Center for Injury Biomechanics at Virginia Tech to understand the biomechanical basis of mild traumatic brain injury and to develop better methods for detecting these injuries sooner. This long-term project, funded by Simbex, Inc., and the National Institutes of Health, involves the implementation and testing of special mechanical sensor inserts in Virginia Tech football player’s helmets, which detect the number, location and severity of head impacts during play. Based on a computerized system to monitor the impact data and correlate it with other physiometric data, Dr. Brolinson is able to determine when each player has received a head impact consistent with that causing mild traumatic brain injury, and intervene to prevent further potentially more severe injury to the player.

Learn more about the National Impact Database

Cathy Callahan, M.D., M.P.H.

Increasing health care delivery, especially in medically underserved areas (MUAs), is a mission of VCOM. Dr. Cathy Callahan, Discipline Chair for Obstetrics and Gynecology, recently completed a project funded by the Federal Bureau of Primary Health Care to determine heath care needs of the residents of Montgomery County, part of which was identified as a MUA in 2008. The project identified significant medical, dental and mental health needs among uninsured or underinsured patients. Working in collaboration with the Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems and a local steering committee, Dr. Callahan developed a strategic plan to establish a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Montgomery County. The project team plans to submit a grant request upon HRSA’s announcement of funding opportunities for new FQHC’s. In addition, Dr. Callahan was accepted into the Academic Scholars and Leaders Program, for the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The objective of the 15-month intensive curriculum is to train academicians to become outstanding educators and researchers. As part of this program, Dr. Callahan is investigating the current utilization of private practitioners nationally as the primary providers of undergraduate medical education in obstetrics and gynecology. Finally, Dr. Callahan will mentor student researchers to complete a collaborative project at the Veron Clinic in the Dominican Republic to identify barriers to initiating and continuing breast feeding among women at the Clinic and to develop culturally appropriate materials to encourage breast feeding.

Rebecca Davis, Ph.D.

Rural and small heath care providers benefit substantially from collaboration, networking, leadership development and education. Dr. Rebecca Davis, Executive Director, National Cooperative of Health Networks Association (NCHN), has been partnering with VCOM on a project funded by the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association. Through NCHN, the project has implemented a variety of leadership development and educational programming for health care network leaders across the nation. Educational programming includes an annual conference, quarterly membership calls, and regional meetings. During these educational activities, network development, leadership development, Health Information Technology, health care reform, and other current healthcare issues are discussed. In addition, NCHN provides a list serve for networks to post questions and interact with other network leaders, manages an Executive Coaching Program, which links new and experienced network leaders, and provides training to newly funded HRSA Rural Network Development Planning Grantees. These networking opportunities strengthened health networks nationwide.

Shaadi Elswaifi, Ph.D., and Jim Palmieri, Ph.D.

Microorganisms are central to human health and a major factor in human disease. In the Microbiology, Infectious and Emerging Diseases Department, Dr. Jim Palmieri, Discipline Chair, and Dr. Shaadi Elswaifi, Assistant Professor, are working with a variety of human pathogens including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other parasitic organisms to answer a wide variety of questions ranging from the role of acanthamoebae as a host for pathogenic bacteria, to the role of free-living protozoans in the environmental uptake of nanoparticles, and the impact of nanoparticles on the ability of pathogenic and non-pathogenic acanthamoebae to kill bacteria. This work has applications in fighting bioterrorism, decreasing the pathogenicity of microorganisms, and developing novel anti-bacterials.

Linda Frasca, M.D.

Educating young people about the dangers of harmful health behaviors such as prescription drug abuse, methamphetamines, smoking, and alcohol is an effective way to help prevent these behaviors. Dr. Linda Frasca, Chair of Appalachian Medical Missions, recently completed a study entitled “Drug Free School Program,” funded by the American Medical Association Foundation for Better Health. The program was provided through the Mini-Medical School approach where VCOM students traveled with Dr. Frasca to the high schools of southwest Virginia to teach high school freshmen the true anatomical and physiological effects of drugs, alcohol, smoking, and health related topics of HIV and STD’s. The effectiveness of the program was demonstrated by an average pretest score of 76% and an average post test score of 89% after the presentations at each school.

Kathy Hosig, Ph.D.

Diabetes continues to be a major health problem, and especially for African-Americans. Dr. Kathy Hosig, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, has a pending grant award from the National Institutes of Health to implement a community-based diabetes education program primarily in medically underserved areas of Virginia. Because of the higher prevalence and greater risk of complications of diabetes in African-Americans, this program will be developed in partnership with the health ministry program of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia, a statewide association of Baptist churches that are predominantly African American. The project will employ a community-based participatory approach and will be delivered in partnership with local Cooperative Extension Agents and healthcare professionals (registered dietitians/certified diabetes educators). The project is a joint venture with Virginia Tech.

Terry Hrubec, D.V.M., Ph.D.

The consumption of tap water is a common aspect of daily life, but tap water may contain impurities that may contribute to occurrence of birth defects. Dr. Terry Hrubec, Assistant Professor of Anatomy, has identified several sources of tap water that increase the occurrence of birth defects in an animal model system. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health involving researchers at VCOM and Virginia Tech, Dr. Hrubec is now working to identify the impurities in tap water that may cause these defects. At this point, there is no indication that these impurities pose any risk to human health, but the possibility remains. Dr. Hrubec plans to answer this question and find effective solutions to this problem.

Zhenquan Jia, Ph.D.

Atherosclerotic vascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the modern world. Dr. Zhenquan Jia, Assistant Professor, is studying the ability of the soybean compound genistein to protect vascular cells from inflammation-based disorders like atherosclerosis. Genistein appears to protect the cells from the action of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, an important stimulus of cells producing inflammation leading to atherosclerosis. In a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Jia and his colleagues are investigating the molecular action of genistein in vascular cells to determine exactly how this substance works. Dr. Jia hopes his work will provide insight into developing genistein for use in treatment of a variety of vascular dysfunctions and inflammation-based disorders.

Yunbo Li, M.D., Ph.D.

Oxidative stress and free-radical damage play a role in the development and pathogenesis of various disorders from cardiovascular disease to cancer. Dr. Yunbo Li, Professor of Pharmacology, is investigating the cellular components and signaling pathways that protect cardiovascular tissues from oxidative stress and free radical damage, and testing the ability of natural compounds to promote these processes. Dr. Li’s group has found that one such compound, 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T), is particularly effective in this regard. In a project funded by the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Li’s group is testing the ability of D3T to counteract the free-radical component of myocardial ischemic injury, and in a project funded by the American Institute of Cancer Research, he is testing the ability of D3T to protect myocardium from the negative side effects of the cancer drug, doxorubicin. Dr. Li’s projects involve collaborations with researchers at VCOM and Virginia Tech.

James Mahaney, Ph.D.

In congestive heart failure, the heart progressively loses the ability to pump sufficient blood through the body to meet its needs. The problem is caused, in part, by the heart cells losing the ability to move calcium properly to drive contraction and relaxation. In collaboration with researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, Dr. Jim Mahaney, Associate Dean for Biomedical Affairs and Research, is testing the effects of the novel heart failure drug, nitroxyl, on calcium transport proteins involved in cardiac muscle relaxation, to help determine the molecular mechanism of nitroxyl action. Dr. Mahaney’s laboratory group has found that nitroxyl specifically activates proteins involved with calcium uptake in cardiac cells, thus stimulating the rate and extent of cardiac muscle relaxation. Similar studies are planned for calcium handling proteins involved in cardiac contraction, to better understand nitroxyl action on all phases of the heartbeat.

Hara Misra, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D.

Environmental toxicants and free radicals have profound effects in the pathology of human disease states. Dr. Hara Misra, Associate Vice President for Research, is involved in studying the molecular basis of various disease processes caused by toxins and free radicals, including cancer, neurodegenerative- and cardiovascular- diseases. Dr. Misra is also studying the ability of certain nutriceuticals to counteract the free-radicals that are associated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, cancer chemotherapy and diabetes. These projects involve collaboration with researchers at VCOM and Virginia Tech, and are currently funded by the NIH and other agencies. The results of these studies have generated much publicity over past year.

Renee Prater, D.V.M., Ph.D.

During pregnancy, exposure of the fetus to certain chemicals can have profound effects on fetal development, and possibly lead to chronic disease states later in the child’s life. To understand this relationship better, Dr. Renee Prater, Associate Professor of Immunology, is using an animal model system to investigate the effects of a maternal high fat diet, high sucrose diet, or ethanol consumption during pregnancy on fetal development and the likelihood of the child developing obesity, liver disease and atherosclerosis in adulthood. The results of her study should help toward the prevention of birth defects and adult diseases in humans. This project is funded by the Virginia Tech Fralin Life Sciences Institute and is a collaborative study with researchers from the Virginia Tech College of Engineering and the Virginia Tech Institute for Critical and Applied Technology. In another project funded by the Egyptian Education and Cultural Bureau, Dr. Prater is studying the protective effects of specific anti-oxidant compounds to protect against oxidative stress associated with liver toxicity.

Chris Reilly, Ph.D.

Properly controlled inflammation is an important component of human health and prevention of infection. However, unregulated inflammation caused by chronic disease states can damage tissue and cause loss of funciton. Dr. Reilly, Discipline Chair for Cellular and Molecular Physiology is studying inflammation associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in hopes of finding ways of inhibiting this inflammation. Dr. Reilly’s group has been investigating the role of both genetics and environmental pathogens in the initiation of SLE, but a common mechanism for the initiation of disease is not yet known. The recent discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) has initiated a flurry of investigations into how miRNA may regulate gene expression, and this may be true for SLE as well. Dr. Reillyand coworkers are now investigating the importance of miRNA in kidney mesangial cells using a lupus mouse model to determine if altered miRNA profiles are involved in the initiation and progression of kidney inflammation associated with SLE.

Beverly Rzigalinski, Ph.D.

Nanomedicine is the application of materials and devices at the atomic scale, to prevent, diagnose, and treat human disease. Beverly Rzigalinski, Professor of Pharmacology, is conducting an array of research projects aimed at the development and use of a variety of nanoparticles for these purposes. In a project funded by the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, she is investigating the ability of cerium oxide nanoparticles to protect and restore mitochondrial function in mitochondrial diseases. The Michael J. Fox Foundation has funded her study of cerium oxide nanoparticles in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, which is aimed at protecting neurons from oxidative damage and loss of function. In collaboration with Radford University, she is examining the neuroprotective effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles in traumatic brain injury models. In collaboration with researchers at the University of Virginia, Dr. Rzigalinski is working to investigate nanoparticle quantum dot/photofrin conjugates for the treatment of cancer, funded by the Commonwealth Health Research Board. Finally, Dr. Rzigalinski is also involved in small business development grants with Middle Way Photonics and the Bradley Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering at Virginia Tech, to further move nanomedicine from the lab benchtop to the bedside.

Dean Sutphin, Ph.D.

Appalachian and International medical missions is a integral component of the VCOM educational experience for our medical students. Dr. Dean Sutphin, Associate Vice President for International and Appalachian Outreach, is conducting a study to assess the impact of medical mission trips on students’ education and identify best practices and factors associated with training in international, community and public health. The researcher-designed survey is administered prior to and immediately following the mission trip experience to measure students’ knowledge, experience, skills, level of interest, and satisfaction with various aspects of the international experience. The survey also measures the impact on students’ decision to pursue continued international service during subsequent years at VCOM and after graduation. Data thus far show significant increases in students’ knowledge, skill and experience levels in performing the initial patient assessment and interacting with patients; and significant increases in the number of students interested in pursuing additional opportunities beyond graduation.

Richard Wyeth, Ph.D.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors including abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and hypertension that individually and collectively are associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease. In collaboration with researchers at Virginia Tech and VCOM, Dr. Richard Wyeth, Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, has developed and are testing a novel non-mammalian animal model, the chicken, that possesses all components of the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in humans, which should facilitate new and more advanced studies on obesity and the metabolic syndrome. In a related project, Dr. Wyeth and collaborators at Virginia Tech are testing the mechanism by which the plant antioxidant, luteolin, relaxes arteries, thereby promoting lower blood pressure. The goal is to develop a dietary supplement to help prevent and/or control high blood pressure. Finally, the drug “speed” and other amphetamines like “ecstasy” can cause high body temperatures (hyperthermia) producing organ failure and death. Working with colleagues at the University of Texas and Ohio Northern University, Dr. Wyeth has found that estrogen helps prevent this hyperthermia in females, whereas males don’t have this protection. The team of investigators is now working to understand the estrogen-related mechanisms that provide this protection.

Hong Zhu, M.D., M.S.

Loss of oxygen supply to organs and cells is a serious problem, but re-introduction of oxygen to these tissues can also cause problems due to the generation of reactive oxygen species as oxygen metabolism restarts. Dr. Hong Zhu, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, is studying this process in the kidney in a project funded by the National Institutes of Health. In this project, Dr. Zhu’s group is working to develop protective and therapeutic strategies to prevent, stop, or even reverse the oxidative and inflammatory processes in the kidney following oxygen reintroduction after oxygen deprivation. To do this, Dr. Zhu and colleagues are studying kidney cell’s anti-oxidant defense systems to understand them better, and testing natural products that may help activate these defense systems and thereby protect cells. Dr. Zhu’s results should help our understanding of a variety of oxidative stress-based kidney disorders.