Health Research for Improved Medical Readiness and Healthcare Delivery
Abstract
The “Health Research for Improved Medical Readiness and Healthcare Delivery” program at USUHS answers fundamental questions of importance to the military mission of the Department of Defense in five (5) distinct portfolio areas: health services research, global health engagement, precision medicine, women’s health, and infectious disease clinical research. Portfolio 1: The mission of the Center for Health Services Research (CHSR) supports the readiness of America’s Warfighter and improved health outcomes for the military community by building capacity throughout the Military Health System (MHS) to conduct health services research that supports MHS goals, the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) mission and the national security strategy. The program will address the lack of system-wide health care evidence to support policy and decision making and insufficient health services research capability to analyze MHS data for building a ready force, protecting and treating the warfighter, and providing efficient, effective, quality and safe healthcare. CHSR is the only group specifically focusing on system-wide improvement for the MHS and responding directly to priority research requests from the DHA, OSD(HA), and other Federal agencies. This support directly enables DHA RDA Priorities of prioritizing transition and incorporating modernization priorities, which cannot be done without timely, accurate, evidence-based information on which to base decisions. CHSR aligns to joint requirements and meets the JCIDS identified gaps of DK1 and DK3 [DK1: Inconsistent approach to producing knowledge products and tools. 1) Inadequate process to introduce public health surveillance into RDT&E. 2) Inadequate surveillance, data capture, and exposure documentation tracking. 3) Inconsistent use and application of Service’s lessons learned information and how it affects the health community’s RDT&E; DK3: Lack a decision support mechanism that enables timely, accurate decisions and diagnosis at all levels of care]. Recently the CHSR was tapped to lead work on Ukrainian health and trauma system that will build Operational Care knowledge for future US readiness. Portfolio 2: Global Health Engagement (GHE) research is related to operational efforts and advanced technology development efforts that will meet the needs of the Joint Force in either improving the understanding and/or execution of DoD GHE, or utilizing DoD health research activities to engage a partner nation/partner nations in support of Combatant Command Campaign Plan objectives to further research. The GHE research needs of the warfighter are expressed by the regular demand signal of the Joint Force through the Office of the Joint Staff Surgeon (OJSS) and the Combatant Commands (CCMDs) Surgeons’ Offices. Portfolio 3: The Center for Military Precision Health’s (CMPH, formerly known as PRIMER) mission is to conduct innovative research applying genomic science, discoveries, and precision techniques to enhance the health, readiness and well-being of the Warfighter and DoD beneficiaries. CMPH provides standardized state of the art genome and molecular profiling services, genomic data analysis, and genomic data storage under DoD security and privacy compliance policies, addressing 8 separate DoD requirements across the MHS while also providing education in genomic information and performing clinical implementation research in the field of genomic medicine to inform policy and clinical practice guidelines for use of genomics in the MHS. CPMH enables HHS- and DOD-study subjects to participate in translational genomic research studies for human disease and conditions of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, suicide-associated behaviors, cardiovascular disease, lung, prostate, breast, gynecological and other human cancers, traumatic brain injury and dementia and other complex human diseases. To date, The American Genome Center at CMPH has completed genomic and transcriptomic profiling on over 120,000 human samples and, MiCOR has screened 4,500 midshipmen for asymptomatic cardiovascular disease. CMPH also supports the Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (MiCOR) program to address gap areas identified in the Initial Capabilities Document for Cardiovascular Care with the first prospective genomic evaluation of cardiac arrest in the military (GEMINI study). Current collaborations with MiCOR in focus areas of sudden death examinations and pharmacogenomics are also active to address preventative measures for soldier readiness and health. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic CMPH scientists are collaborating with The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the DoD study EPICC via IDCRP, to provide state of the art molecular profiling and analysis of individuals with COVID related illness. These program projects directly address risk factors and biomarkers for chronic and severe COVID-related health conditions after viral infection in young service members for readiness measures. Portfolio 4: The Military Women’s Health research program’s (MWHRP) mission is to foster research that influences policy and guides best practices for the health care of Active-Duty Service Women (ADSW) and Veterans. The Military Women’s Health Research Consortium fosters aggregation and facilitates research that supports an operationally ready and deployable female force, improves accessibility and quality of healthcare that addresses the unique health needs of ADSW and veterans, and spans the life course of ADSW as they transition from military service to VA care. Portfolio 5: The Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program (IDCRP) designs and executes multicenter infectious diseases clinical research focusing on high-impact cohorts and interventional trials, to inform and improve care of the Warfighter. The focus is on emerging infections, antimicrobial resistance, and other high priority infections impacting military readiness in US and abroad. IDCRP will generate research evidence to inform warfighter care, develop DoD clinical practice guidance, assess cost effectiveness of interventions, and assist force health protection policy development. IDCRP has continued to focus efforts on DoD-relevant epidemiology efforts plus therapeutic and prophylactics aimed at COVID-19.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2024
- Source ID
- 55ae354667ccbaa0ed26abb03301fd50