INNOVATION | to heal patients and give them hope
that will slow these diseases.”
As part of the research, scientists
are comparing veterans with these
conditions to healthy veterans of
the same era. Of particular interest
are those who encountered similar
hazards but appear to have no residual
symptoms. Understanding vulnerability
and resiliency factors for those who
encounter acute psychological trauma,
chemical insult, and traumatic brain
injury is essential. It provides crucial
insights into the pathways involved in
developing long-term after-effects and
clues for identifying effective treatments.
Marshaling our forces
The patient participants for these three
research programs share one defining
characteristic: they have taken on
dangerous occupations for the greater
good, putting themselves at great risk
in service to their community or their
country. The health consequences can
follow multiple lifelong pathways.
Some are clearly disease free; some
develop a single chronic condition;
a third group has a complex array
of issues, which can share multiple
characteristics. For example, TBI and
Gulf War Illness sufferers typically
experience chronic pain and cognitive
difficulties, those with PTSD and
TBI often experience depression, and
some develop chemical dependencies.
Therefore, the collaboration across
disciplines among three scientists
with separate and distinct expertise
is a natural logical step, accelerating
tangible scientific progress for their
patients. Each researcher tackles the
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THE CATALYST April 14 | sw.org
topics from her own perspective, leads
her own related studies, and agrees
that working together produces a sum
greater than its individual parts. The
scientists employ neuroimaging studies,
genetic tests, and clinical assessments,
all with the objective of using cuttingedge science to address the urgent need
for improving the health of affected
veterans and emergency responders.
“We have several different
populations vulnerable to complex
health conditions,” says Dr. Little. “I
feel a significant responsibility to serve
these veterans and active duty soldiers
because they’re at repeated risk for injury
and long-term health consequences that
result from their service to our country.
It’s the nature of their jobs,” she says.
Dr. Steele agrees: “We all have different
areas of expertise, which are all essential
for addressing these complex conditions.
I’m extremely excited to partner with
Scott & White in this important work.”
A valiant effort
“We take pride in our Texas military
culture, and feel a tremendous sense
of gratitude,” says Dr. Little. “We’re
all studying diseases you can’t see on
an X-ray or identify with basic lab
workups. But, as experts in our areas,
coming together gives us the potential
“ e’ve done a better
W
job of saving lives
through enhanced
combat trauma
medicine and
personal protective
equipment.”
—Deborah Little, PhD
to do more,” she says. And will clearly
impact the lives of those who serve
beyond our state border.
Dr. Gulliver says, “I’m in awe
of the people who volunteer for our
studies; first they risk their lives in
the line of duty, then they put in the
additional effort of meeting with us,
even sometimes taking the leap of faith
to try new or experimental treatments.
Our participants just keep making
contributions to society: in the work
they do, in the time they spend, and in
the risks they take, entrusting us with
the detailed biological and psychological
information needed to improve care for
those with difficult, and sometimes still
impossible, conditions to treat.”
As researchers get a better
understanding of the biology that
explains the physical, emotional, and
mental health deficits that ravage the lives
of so many, veterans and first responders
are finding hope knowing that, just as
they’ve done for so many before, help is
now on the way for them. n
The investigators are pleased to have funding from federal agencies,
including the National Institutes of Health, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the Department of Defense, as well as meaningful
support from Scott & White Healthcare System for Dr. Gulliver and Dr. Little
and from Baylor University for Dr. Steele. More funding is needed to advance
these studies. To learn more, pleas H