The Clinical Research Foundation (CRF) is a Nonprofit corporation that provides the administrative infrastructure dedicated to Louisville Robley Rex VA Medical Center researchers. The CRF also works closely with the University of Louisville to provide groundbreaking research opportunities to veterans and active military in the Louisville, Kentucky area.
Nonprofit corporations (NPCs) were established to provide a more efficient mechanism for VA researchers to participate in research and educational programs funded by private and non-VA public sources. There are more than 80 NPCs nationally, each affiliated with a VA medical center, who collectively have a resource and voice through the National Association of Veteran Research and Education Foundation (NAVREF).
Serving Those That Served Our Country
According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, Kentucky has more than 330,000 veterans, of whom 43% are over the age of 65 and 75% are designated as “wartime” veterans. In wartime or peacetime, all veterans make tremendous sacrifices of their time and many, unfortunately, much more. Even many years after returning home, veterans are at an increased risk of developing certain diseases.
Fields of research at Robley Rex VAMC include cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hepatology and neuroscience.
The CRF’s mission is to provide support to the Louisville Robley Rex VA Medical Center physicians and researchers to identify better treatment options facing our local veteran population. CRF supports this mission through industry funding, federal grants, nonprofit entities and private support.
Robley Rex VAMC Research Accomplishments
The laboratory of Dr. Eleanor Lederer and Dr. Michael Brier at the Robley Rex VAMC has been focused on improving health care for our Veterans with kidney disease. Two major complications facing this population is the control of anemia and metabolic bone disease – the major causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Over the last two decades, their research has developed an artificial intelligence tool for drug-dosing that improves anemia management and reduces patient exposure to drugs used in this treatment.
Currently, Dr. Lederer and Dr. Brier are adapting these principles for a more complicated disease: metabolic bone disease. Their work has resulted in the development of a mathematical model of the human body suffering kidney disease. This model can be used to test multiple drug therapies used in the treatment of this disease. Results to date show that an artificial intelligence approach is superior to the methodology being currently used. The desired result of the drug therapy is achieved quicker and with improved markers of bone health. Current research is looking to expand the techniques developed in this work to further improve patient’s health. Human trials utilizing this methodology are beginning and will lead to randomized controlled clinical trials of the technology.
In conjunction with the Non-profit Research Center, our clinical investigators have initiated several new research trials. These trials range from diabetes care to cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease to pancreatitis. We are also conducting trials in liver cancer and lung cancer.
Dr. Fred Hendler was awarded a $5 million grant for studying lung cancer treatments and early detection/prevention. This grant covers the research being conducted in conjunction with four other VISN 9 hospitals, extending the reach of Robley Rex VAMC investigators much wider than it has reached in the past. Dr. Hendler is also investing new technology that can detect cancer DNA in the blood that might lead to early detection of several different types of cancer.
Dr. Gerald Dryden has several studies investigating new agents in Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. These new medications have successfully treated Crohn’s disease in earlier trials, and now they are undergoing final evaluation before being submitted to the FDA. These medications affect the immune system in different ways than older medications – bringing greater benefit with a smaller side effect profile. Dr. Gerald Dryden is studying a new medication designed to combat acute pancreatitis. This medication works by inhibiting calcium channels, which are important to the development of pancreatitis and the ensuing immune response. This study is for hospitalized patients with acute pancreatitis from any cause.
Dr. Sathya Krishnasamy is conducting clinical trials to evaluate the effect of new medicines on diabetes and obesity. Her past efforts have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine and have assisted in moving recently approved medications for diabetes and obesity from clinical trials to actually use in clinics. Some of the therapies that she is investigating show promise to further improve the care of these diseases. Newer medications being developed for obesity are showing great promise for reducing obesity and the complications associated with that condition.
Dr. Bobby Moldoveanu is conducting a study evaluating a novel stimulator of the diaphragm to assist patients on a ventilator to breath better on their own. This will enable patients to be removed from a ventilator in a timelier manner.
Dr. Ashutosh Barve is investigating new therapies for patients with advanced liver disease with new drugs targeting hepatocellular carcinoma – a cancer of the liver that develops in the setting of cirrhosis. These new therapies provide hope to people that would otherwise result in prolonged suffering and eventually death.
Dr. Craig McClain has started up a new study looking at the effects of a common medication for controlling cholesterol (simvastatin), with the hope that this medication will help prevent serious complications of advanced liver disease (cirrhosis). The Robley Rex VAMC is one of only nine other sites across the VA healthcare system to conduct this research.
