Dog Project No.

Protocol

Funding Source

VA Location

Active as of June 1 2017?

Approved for continuation on March 28, 2018?

Status as of    November 15, 2018?

1

High Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation to Restore Cough

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

VA

Cleveland, OH

Yes

Yes

Active

Purpose of Research:  Veterans with spinal cord injuries that impair their ability to cough are vulnerable to potentially fatal respiratory infections. This study evaluates how electrical stimulation of the spinal cord could be optimized to activate respiratory muscles appropriately to generate effective coughing.

2

Potentiation of Immunotherapy with Targeted Nanoporphyrin in Bladder Cancer

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

VA

Pleasant Hill, CA

Yes

Yes

Inactive

Purpose of Research:  Development of a new treatment for bladder cancer that is not adequately controlled by existing treatments.

Comments: Proposed clinical trial with UC Davis Veterinary School and private clients

3

Contribution of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Pericardial Fluid to Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiac Surgery

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

VA

St. Louis, MO

Yes

Yes

Inactive

Purpose of Research:  Postoperative atrial fibrillation is associated with longer hospital stays after cardiac surgery, and increased risks of stroke and death. This is research into the mechanisms involved in atrial fibrillation, which we need to understand in order to find treatments for postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Comments:  Dog studies have not started yet

4

Neuropharmacology of Pontine Control of Breathing Frequency

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

VA

Milwaukee, WI

Yes

Yes

Inactive

Purpose of Research:  Veterans with certain head or neck injuries, or who suffer from pain that can only be controlled with potent analgesics, often experience impaired control of breathing and coughing. This work is to increase understanding of that control, which is fundamental to developing better ways to help these veterans.

Comments:  The PI has retired and is writing papers to publish remaining data; protocol is active but no further work is expected unless reviewers require it

5

Mechanistic Insight of Premature Ventricular Contractions- induced Cardiomyopathy

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

NIH

Richmond, VA

Yes

Yes

Active

Purpose of Research:  Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) interfere with proper beating of the heart. This is research into the cellular mechanisms involved, which we need to understand in order to develop better ways to manage PVCs.

Comments:  Study complete as of September 2018; study is now closed.

6

Autonomic Nerve Activity and Cardiac Arrhythmias

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

American Heart

Richmond, VA

Yes

Yes

Active

Purpose of Research:  Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) interfere with nerve signals to the heart, and can damage heart muscle. This is research into how the loss of nerve signals might be responsible for the damage, which we need to understand in order to develop better ways to protect the heart.

7

Effect of Chronic Premature Ventricular Contractions on the Remodeled Ischemic Heart

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

American Heart

Richmond, VA

Yes

Yes

Closed

Purpose of Research:  Heart attacks injure heart muscle and makes it more prone to premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), which can cause further damage. This is research into how the injury produced by a heart attack interacts with PVCs to impact heart function, which we need to understand in order to improve heart function after heart attacks.

8

Nanoparticle Injection into Ganglionated Neural Plexi to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

Other

 --

Virginia Commonwealth

Richmond, VA

Yes

Yes

Active

Purpose of Research:  Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, hospitalization, and death, but current treatments for AF are risky. This is research into new ways to treat AF with less risk than is currently possible.

9

A Comparison of Canine Anesthetic Regimens to Optimize Hemodynamic Stability and Quality of Electrophysiologic and Neurophysiologic Data Acquisition

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

Other

 --

internal funds

Richmond, VA

Yes

Yes

Active

Purpose of Research:  Sedatives and anesthetics commonly affect how the heart works. This study is designed to sort out how to improve anesthesia for future studies of cardiac function.

10

What Causes Human Narcolepsy?

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

VA

Los Angeles, CA

Yes

N/A

Closed

Purpose of Research:  To understand and develop improved therapeutics for narcolepsy.

Comments:  October 2017: PI determined that scientific goals of the current study could be met with mice

11

Control of Blood Glucose Levels in Diabetes

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

Other

--

Private Industry Sponsor

Los Angeles, CA

Yes

No

Closed

Purpose of Research:  Collaborative work to develop new devices for monitoring blood glucose and refining insulin dosing to better control blood glucose and reduce complications of diabetes.

Comments:  June 2018: Collaborative work was completed; further studies will be conducted by the non-VA party alone

12

The Investigation of Novel Imaging Approaches to the Circle of Willis

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

Other

--

University

Milwaukee, WI

Yes

No

Closed

Purpose of Research:  To evaluate the use of an ultra- thin camera for direct viewing of the inside and outside of brain blood vessels, which could increase the accuracy and safety of procedures to treat aneurysms, deploy stents to hold blood vessels open, and remove clots that cause strokes.

Comments:  March 2018: Protocol on hold pending further review by VA Office of Research and Development.

13

Determining Organ Perfusion During Vascular Compromise

Protocol Form

Feedback Document

Summary of the Literature

Other

--

University

Milwaukee, WI

Yes

No

Closed

Purpose of Research:  To evaluate the accuracy and precision of Near Infrared Spectroscopy for measuring blood flow to internal organs, which is crucial to monitor during and after transplantation.

Comments:  March 2018; New information suggests that pigs are now more suitable for accomplishing the research goals