59MDW 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 Authorized Institutional Official charged with the responsibility for the protection of human research subjects participating in research on behalf of the 59th Medical Wing Commander and Institutional Official; refer to: 59 Medical Wing (MDW) Human Research Protection Program.  

https://www.59mdw.af.mil/Units/Chief-Scientist-ST/Human-Research-Protection-Program/

https://www.59mdw.af.mil/Portals/50/documents/Biographies/1_Dr_Niemeyer_59MDW-ST_Biography_15Jun2020_(with%20Photo).pdf?ver=2020-06-17-155817-180

Wing Chief Scientist's Office, Science and Technology (59MDW/ST)

Provides strategic leadership, 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 over 70 sites worldwide.

Mission: Conduct clinical studies and translational research and apply knowledge gained to enhance performance, protect the force, and 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

Joint Austere Medicine Research Program (JAM)

The JAM research program mission is to advance technologies and knowledge for emergent and primary care in austere environments.  JAM’s vision is to conduct clinical research to support austere missions by enabling access to technologies and acquiring 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 Joint Austere Medicine Program are to 1) Execute clinical research to improve readiness and provider skill sustainment using emerging technologies and applications;  2) Investigate innovative strategies to triage, resuscitate, stabilize, and transport the sick and injured; and 3) Contribute to standardization and implementation of clinical methods, procedures, and practice for care of battlefield and non-battlefield injuries.  For more information, email Usaf.jbsa.59-mdw.mbx-.59-mdw-ST@mail.mil. 

Program areas

• En Route Care Research Center (ECRC)
• Surgical and Technological Advancements for Traumatic Injuries in Combat (STATIC)
• Frontline Illness Exposure and Recovery Care Efforts (FIERCE)
• Clinical Resuscitation, Emergency Science, Triage, and Toxicology (CREST²)
• Improvements in Neurological, Sensory, and Perceptible Research (INSPR)

Joint Integrative Clinical Medicine Research Program (JICM)

The JICM research program mission is to promote innovative and impactful research that develops discoveries for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury.  JICM’s vision is to conduct patient-centered medical research, and education of military healthcare leaders that deliver the best healthcare for uniformed service members and their beneficiaries.  The scope of research encompasses priorities from the combat theater of operations to CONUS-based definitive care.  Program focus areas include 1) Discoveries aimed at prevention, diagnosis, risk mitigation, and treatment of disease and injury including solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of injuries from directed energy exposure; 2) Assessing precision medicine approaches to deliver tailored treatment and pain management strategies for better health care; 3) Innovative strategies to improve outcomes for injury rehabilitation medicine, psychological health, and resiliency aimed at improving warfighter health; and 4) Developing solutions to ensure a healthy trainee population; and educational programs for medical leaders that improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.  For more information, email Usaf.jbsa.59-mdw.mbx-.59-mdw-ST@mail.mil.

Program areas

• Military and Family Health and Resilience
• Regenerative/Restorative Medicine and Reconstruction (RESTOR-ICM)
• Disease, Injury and Pain Management
• Trainee Health and Fitness/Readiness

Clinical Investigations and 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, email Usaf.jbsa.59-mdw.mbx-.59-mdw-ST@mail.mil. https://kx.health.mil/kj/kx8/ClinicalResearchJBSALackland/Pages/home.aspx

Center for Advanced Molecular Detection (CAMD)

The CAMD is a specialized research unit that conducts biomedical and bioengineering research focused on precision care, molecular diagnostics, and regenerative medicine. Research endeavors include translating “omic” biomarker discovery into diagnostic tests associated with susceptibility and resistance to disease and injury, and operational assessment of diagnostic technology.  Additionally, the CAMD supports studies that blend innovative bioengineering solutions such as machine learning to improve sensitivity and specificity for disease detection with molecular assays.  The CAMD works collaboratively with internal and external researchers to translate novel concepts and technologies into materiel solutions and knowledge products.  This work aims to increase diagnostic efficiencies and reduce costs for better medical decision making that translates into enhanced warfighter readiness.  For more information, email Usaf.jbsa.59-mdw.mbx-.59-mdw-ST@mail.mil.

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 Usaf.jbsa.59-mdw.mbx-.59-mdw-ST@mail.mil.     

Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA)

The ORTA office 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) and 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 SME reviews of research proposals, provide feedback, and enable enhancements of regulatory strategies and likelihood for funding and successful fielding 
• 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) programs and funding opportunities like AFWERX to stimulate innovation, research and development, and help with process improvement
• Work with San Antonio businesses, government, and academia to promote activities that address military medical needs and requirements

For more information, email usaf.jbsa.59-mdw.mbx.59-mdw-st-technology-transfer-office@mail.mil and click on https://www.federallabs.org/labs/59th-medical-wingst

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. 

Air Force Post Graduate Dental School and 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 stereolithographic laboratory in the Air Force Medical Service, using digital modeling to process and fabricate prosthetics and surgical guides from digital images.  For more information visit: https://www.59mdw.af.mil/Dental-Services/.

Dental Research and Clinical User Evaluations

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.

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

Clinician Scientist Investigator Opportunity Network (CSION)

The Clinician Scientist Investigator Opportunity Network (CSION) program develops those active duty clinicians who have a passion/talent for synthesizing promising discovery into practical application into the next generation of gifted clinician-scientists.  The 59 MDW Chief Scientist agreed to sponsor this effort being in line with the 59 MDW/ST Vision, “To grow medical leaders”.  The program is unique in that it is 1) Tri-service, 2) Corps neutral, 3) has no service obligation, and 4) focused on research mission rather than degree granting.  The pipeline a CSION fellow creates is tailored for the needs of the military mission rather than personal gain.  With no service obligation, motivated members are offered a non-financial incentive to remain in a career tract specifically designed to retain research-focused medical academicians within the military.  The program is supported by the 59MDW Office of the Chief Scientist, Science & Technology (ST) and all of their partners with the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), San Antonio Military Health System (SAMHS), SAUSHEC and Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio (NAMRU-SA) to provide mentors willing to train and mentor clinician scientists in all areas of (DHP RDT&E) programmatic research.

For more information email at usaf.jbsa.59-mdw.mbx.59-mdw-ST@mail.mil

Research Education Academy (REA)

The Research Education Academy (REA) is part of the "grow medical leaders" initiative of the 59 MDW Chief Scientist's Office.  REA will provide a Basic level research education experience by participating in STEM outreach with community high schools and training for enlisted medical specialists.  With guidance from Education and Training (J7), REA is positioned to provide STEM education and provide military academy physician shadowing and summer project internship opportunities. REA will provide an Intermediate level research education experience by conducting biannual grant writing workshops and Introduction to Bioengineering for the Medical Education & Training Campus (METC). 59 MDW, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center and the University of Texas at San Antonio have established an Education Partnership Agreement, in which REA will participate. REA, in collaboration with 4D Bio3, will offer biotechnology immersion training, and leverage partnerships to enhance education and training for the warfighter.  REA provides research education in study design, funding acquisition and project management to residents, fellows and staff.  Grant writing workshops are held twice yearly in Q2 (Apr-Jun) and Q3 (Jul-Sep) to supplement the more formalized Clinical Investigation Research Training in Q1 (Jan-Mar) and Research Fundamentals Workshop in Q4 (Oct-Dec).

For more information email at usaf.jbsa.59-mdw.mbx.59-mdw-ST@mail.mil

Contact Information

59MDW Science and Technology, Office of the Chief Scientist

1632 Nellis Street, Bldg. 5406

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas 78236-7517

210-292-2097

Usaf.jbsa.59-mdw.mbx-.59-mdw-ST@mail.mil

Helpful Links

59th MDW/ST Newsletter

59th MDW/ST Pamphlet 

59th MDW/ST Research Highlights Flyer

59 MDW/ST Collaborations and Capabilities Guide

59th MDW/ST Research Reference Guide

59th MDW/ST Publications and Presentation List

59th MDW/ST Funding Opportunities

https://kx.health.mil/kj/kx8/59MDWScienceAndTechnology/Pages/home.aspx