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Chief Scientist/Science & Technology

59 MDW CHIEF SCIENTIST
The Chief Scientist provides senior leadership and develops high-level collaborations between Service, Department of Defense, local, national and international government, academia and industry, research, development, test, evaluation and acquisition organizations. The Chief Scientist oversees and manages a dynamic portfolio to meet organizational needs, while leveraging partnerships to develop tailored investments that advance state of the art solutions for world class precision medical care with an emphasis on mission aligned research in En Route Care, Trauma, Resuscitation and Stabilization; Diagnostics, Therapeutics and 'Omics; Modeling Simulation Training; Clinical Rehabilitative Medicine; and Clinical Investigations.  The Wing Chief Scientist is the Institutional Official charged with the responsibility for the protection of human research subjects participating in research, see, 59 Medical Wing (MDW) Human Research Protection Program.
 
Wing Chief Scientist's Office, Science and Technology (59MDW/ST)
Provides scientific, technical, biostatistical, research and regulatory compliance, and program management guidance and support for clinical investigations, studies and translational research conducted by investigators and their collaborators to address unique scientific needs of the 59th Medical Wing, Air Force, Joint community, Department of Defense and the Nation. This specialized expertise enables researchers to exploit new knowledge while developing, evaluating, and integrating applications of innovative technologies to provide the very best patient-centered care in the pre-hospital, in- and -out-patient environment, maintaining and restoring warfighter and beneficiary health, and building warrior medics to address present and future mission challenges.  The ST office supports clinical researchers at 70 sites worldwide.
Mission: Conduct clinical studies and translational research and apply knowledge gained to enhance performance, protect the force, advance medical care and capabilities across the global health system, and train future medical leaders.
Vision: Grow Medical Leaders, Drive Innovations in Patient Care and Readiness
Trauma & Clinical Care Research Program (TCCR)
The TCCR program mission is to elevate expeditionary medicine to preserve warfighter lives and accelerate return to duty. TCCR researchers conduct clinical research to support austere missions by enabling technologies and new knowledge that will empower medical personnel in providing superior patient care that improves the human condition throughout the continuum~ from the point-of-injury, en route, and the CONUS-based hospital environment. The goals of the Trauma & Clinical Care Research Program is to 1) Provide and modernize materiel and knowledge to optimize survival and recovery of combat casualties; 2) Advance and transition autonomous technologies for use in preventative medicine and primary and emergent patient care; and 3) Impose standardization and implementation of telemonitoring, telemedicine, and telementoring activities for care of battlefield and non-battlefield injuries. For more information, call 210-292-2097.   
  
Program areas
  • En Route Care Research Center (ECRC)
  • Surgical and Technological Advancements for Traumatic Injuries in Combat (STATIC)
  • Forward Applications for Circulatory Trauma and Stabilization  (FACTS)
  • Restorative Endeavor for Service Members Through Optimization of Reconstruction – Expeditionary Medicine (RESTOR-EM)
Diagnostics & Therapeutics Program (D&T)
The D&T program mission is to promote innovative and impactful collaborative research that develops requirements-driven discoveries for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury.  The focus of the D&T Research Program is research in Integrative Clinical Medicine (ICM).  The ICM focus area includes 1) Innovative discoveries for prevention, diagnosis, risk mitigation, & treatment of disease & injury; 2) Validation of advanced treatment technologies (precision medicine, pharmacogenomic interventions, pain management, substance abuse); 3) Injury rehabilitation medicine, psychological health & resiliency aimed at improving warfighter health; 4) Health surveillance/diagnostics & treatment for infectious disease, environmental & occupational hazards; 5) Clinical inquiry for warfighter-related optimization & health readiness.  For more information, call 210-292-2097.
Program areas
  • Precision Medicine & Patient-Centered Care
  • Military and Family Health & Resilience
  • Regenerative/Restorative Medicine & Reconstruction (RESTOR-ICM)
  • Disease, Injury & Pain Management
  • Emerging Knowledge, Research & Technology
  • Trainee Health & Fitness/Readiness
  • Sustainment/Proficiency Training
Clinical Investigations & Research Support (CIRS)
CIRS is the largest biomedical research facility in the Air Force that provides centralized administrative, scientific, and regulatory oversight and guidance to Wing personnel in the development and performance of institutional, national, operational, and clinical research. Available support includes protocol development, research design, biostatistical consultation, laboratory analysis, and veterinary care. The CIRS supports operational training requirements for Graduate Health and Science Education programs and Wing healthcare providers. Previous and ongoing research is integral to international readiness and disaster training. For more information, call 210-292-7068.
 
Center for Advanced Molecular Detection (CAMD)
The CAMD is a specialized laboratory facility in the Air Force that supports basic, clinical, and applied biomedical research. The CAMD continuously monitors upper respiratory tract viral and bacterial pathogens among JBSA-Lackland base population. In addition, the CAMD conducts and supports studies that provide integrative research and engineering solutions that address acute and chronic disease though the advancement of surveillance, molecular diagnostics and material development. The CAMD works collaboratively with internal/external researchers in a coordinated manner to translate novel concepts and technologies into material and knowledge products. For more information, call 210-292-0500.
 
Nursing Research – Center for Clinical Inquiry (C2I)
The Nursing Research at the 59th Medical Wing C2I is one of four Air Force nursing research cells dedicated to the conduct of research, Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and the promotion of clinical inquiry. The C2I mission is to ensure innovative military readiness and health through creating, translating, and implementing evidence. The vision is a culture of inquiry, mission-focused, excellence-driven, and trusted care anywhere.   Two active duty nurse scientists and two civilian nurses lead and facilitate research and EBP efforts.  For more information, email:  usaf.jbsa.59-mdw.mbx.wing-c2i-evidence-based-practice@mail.mil or call 210-292-2097.
  
Air Force Post Graduate Dental School & Clinic
The mission of the Air Force Post Graduate Dental School (AFPDS) and Clinic is to perfect the patient experience through premier education, research, and technology, with a vision of building the future of dentistry...always patient-focused.  Dedicated on Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland on June 20, 2012, the 56,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility supports six graduate residency programs and the Maxillofacial Prosthetics Fellowship program.  It is a branch campus of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center - San Antonio, serving the research and residency needs of Air Force, Army, Navy and Canadian dental residents pursuing a Master of Science degree from USUHS.  The AFPDS is home to one of the Air Force's largest dental laboratories, providing over $1 million in services from 5,000 square feet of laboratory space with 69 dental treatment rooms with the most technologically advanced equipment.  It is also home to the only stereolithography laboratory in the Air Force Medical Service, using digital modeling to process and fabricate prosthetics and surgical guides from digital images. 
 
Dental Research
The mission of Air Force Dental Research and Consultation Service (DRCS) is to provide solutions to operational problems of the Air Force Dental Service and other federal dental agencies. DRCS performs laboratory testing, clinical/user evaluations of dental equipment and materials and provides guidance for policymakers on biomaterials, dental equipment, infection control, facility design, and patient safety. DRCS provides graduate dental education research support for both Air Force and sister-service residency programs as well as collaborates with sister services and educational institutions on funded research studies. Education courses are provided to military members through the common access card (CAC)- enabled website and Relias Health. Research and evaluation results are published in peer reviewed journals and on a dedicated website. For dental school/research contact information visit: https://kx.health.mil/kj/kx2/DRCS/Pages/home.aspx
 
Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA)
The ORTA provides researchers with support needed to 1) establish collaborative agreements with other research and development organizations to include government, non-profit, academia, and industry, 2) file invention disclosures and patents to secure intellectual property (IP) for licensing ideas to commercial developers, and 3) work with industry and the Air Force Legal Office to facilitate patent submissions and licensing for product development, commercial sales, and royalties.
Main Functions:
  • Establish Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) & other technology transfer agreements to foster partnerships, reduce research costs, and increase collaboration
  • Review research proposals and approved IRB protocols to identify intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer opportunities 
  • Assist with filing patent submission applications with government legal office to facilitate technology transfer of government research to civilian sector
  • Facilitate the application of clinical research outcomes into military medical operations  
  • Review research plans to enhance knowledge and technology transition strategies and identify technology transfer opportunities 
  • Conduct FDA reviews of research proposals and provide enhancement of regulatory strategies  
  • Assist with evaluating commercial medical products for use in DoD clinical operations
  • Assist researchers with submitting topics to Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and funding opportunity to initiate innovation, research and development projects
  • Work with San Antonio businesses, government, and academia to promote activities that address military medical needs and requirements
Medical technologies, materials, and changes in practice emerging from DoD laboratories have a broader application to civilian medical practices than just military medical practices in most cases. By including commercial applications in the development of medical products, the costs to develop and procure these items is significantly reduced, as well as improvement in viability, efficacy, availability, and reliability of those medical products. 
 
Health Service Research (HSR)
Health Service Research is an initiative established to support Defense Health Agency’s (DHA) efforts to address factors that influence delivery of health care. Studies show social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviors affect access to health care, the quality and cost of health care, and ultimately health and well-being (Academy Health, 2000).  Research efforts in this area will integrate epidemiologic, sociologic, economic and other analytic sciences to better understand the relationships between need, demand, supply, use, and outcomes of health care.  Knowledge obtained from HSR supports evidence-based policy and leadership decision-making at both the strategic and front-line levels.  HSR efforts conducted and supported by the ST Office will optimize the organization toward the goal of decreasing system variations in terms of cost, quality, health care outcomes, and health readiness that can be compared to private sector best practice. 
Areas of interest to support HSR 
  • Health Care Cost and related Economics
  • Variation in Health Care Quality
  • Health Readiness
  • Health Care Outcomes
Contact Information
59MDW Science and Technology, Office of the Chief Scientist
1632 Nellis Street, Bldg 5406
Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas 78233-9908
210-292-2097
Current Newsletter & Brochure (CAC required for access)
Research Highlights Flyer (May 19, 2017) 
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Medical Appointment Line:
210-916-9900
 
 
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Chaplain Services: 210-292-7373

 

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