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Photos from the Field

2021

Atlanta | Hawaii | Chicago | Little Rock | Maryland | Pittsburgh | Portland | Texas

Atlanta VA Medical Center

Dr. Madeleine Hackney of the VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation in Decatur, Georgia, demonstrates an adaptive tango intervention. Her studies focus on the use of dance to enhance the well-being, cognition, and coordination of geriatric patients and those with Parkinson’s Disease.

Dr. Madeleine Hackney of the VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation in Decatur, Georgia, demonstrates an adaptive tango intervention. Her studies focus on the use of dance to enhance the well-being, cognition, and coordination of geriatric patients and those with Parkinson's Disease.

VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation research coordinator, Cydney Goodwin Hamel, coaches a participant on traversing balance pods. Regaining balance, motor control, and coordination is an integral aspect of alleviating falls and fall risk in the elderly Veteran population.

VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation research coordinator, Cydney Goodwin Hamel, coaches a participant on traversing balance pods. Regaining balance, motor control, and coordination is an integral aspect of alleviating falls and fall risk in the elderly Veteran population.

Exercise physiologists with the VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Kevin Mammino and Cydney Goodwin-Hamel, lead participants in a strength and conditioning program to help keep elderly veterans active and improve their physical fitness.

Exercise physiologists with the VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Kevin Mammino and Cydney Goodwin-Hamel, lead participants in a strength and conditioning program to help keep elderly veterans active and improve their physical fitness.

Exercise physiologists Kevin Mammino and Cydney Goodwin-Hamel assess a participant’s VO2 capacity. VO2max is a measurement of an individual’s ability to utilize oxygen during intense exercise. It is used as an indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness in many of the studies at the VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation.

Exercise physiologists Kevin Mammino and Cydney Goodwin-Hamel assess a participant’s VO2 capacity. VO2max is a measurement of an individual’s ability to utilize oxygen during intense exercise. It is used as an indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness in many of the studies at the VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation.

Dr. Keith McGregor and research coordinator Aliyah Auerbach utilize repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to alleviate chronic headache, muscle pain, and joint pain in Veterans who experience Gulf War Syndrome.

Dr. Keith McGregor and research coordinator Aliyah Auerbach utilize repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to alleviate chronic headache, muscle pain, and joint pain in Veterans who experience Gulf War Syndrome.

Dr. Maryanne Weatherill of the VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation delivers prism adaption therapy to help patients recover 3D-vision after damage from a stroke. This therapy can help Veterans decrease their risk of bumping into objects, falling, and suffering other injuries after experiencing a stroke.

Dr. Maryanne Weatherill of the VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation delivers prism adaption therapy to help patients recover 3D-vision after damage from a stroke. This therapy can help Veterans decrease their risk of bumping into objects, falling, and suffering other injuries after experiencing a stroke.

VA Pacific Island Health Care System (Hawaii)

Neurofeedback specialist Dr. Caitlin Tyrrell demonstrates placing electrodes on research coordinator Kim Schaper's scalp. The location of electrodes corresponds to specific brain regions associated with symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Neurofeedback specialist Dr. Caitlin Tyrrell demonstrates placing electrodes on research coordinator Kim Schaper's scalp. The location of electrodes corresponds to specific brain regions associated with symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Research coordinator Kim Schaper holds a tactile unit and controller—both are feedback mechanisms—while Dr. Caitlin Tyrrell monitors real-time brain activity. Based on the participant's feedback, the neurofeedback specialist adjusts frequency to locate the optimal setting.

Research coordinator Kim Schaper holds a tactile unit and controller—both are feedback mechanisms—while Dr. Caitlin Tyrrell monitors real-time brain activity. Based on the participant's feedback, the neurofeedback specialist adjusts frequency to locate the optimal setting.

Dr. Caitlin Tyrrell and research coordinator Kim Schaper demonstrate various neurofeedback computer displays. Patients receive neurofeedback displayed as a video or a video game. As the brain receives feedback via the computer display, it slowly begins to self-correct.

Dr. Caitlin Tyrrell and research coordinator Kim Schaper demonstrate various neurofeedback computer displays. Patients receive neurofeedback displayed as a video or a video game. As the brain receives feedback via the computer display, it slowly begins to self-correct.

Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital (Chicago)

Improving the outcomes of fusion surgery in the thoracolumbar spine and pelvis. Researchers Dr. Leonard Voronov and Mr. Robert Havey assess spine motion in the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Laboratory at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. They aim to determine whether surgical treatment is successful in improving spinal function and reducing chronic lower back pain.

Improving the outcomes of fusion surgery in the thoracolumbar spine and pelvis. Researchers Dr. Leonard Voronov and Mr. Robert Havey assess spine motion in the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Laboratory at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. They aim to determine whether surgical treatment is successful in improving spinal function and reducing chronic lower back pain.

Developing and enhancing motor recovery following stroke. VA researcher Dr. William Wolf investigates different pharmacological approaches for promoting new neural pathways in the brain, at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital neuroscience lab. His work seeks to enhance rehabilitative therapy and improve functional recovery following a stroke.

Developing and enhancing motor recovery following stroke. VA researcher Dr. William Wolf investigates different pharmacological approaches for promoting new neural pathways in the brain, at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital neuroscience lab. His work seeks to enhance rehabilitative therapy and improve functional recovery following a stroke.

Mindfulness strategies may reduce stress and cardiovascular disease risk in women veterans. Dr. Karen Saban is an investigator with the Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Health Care at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. She is researching the impact of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program, that includes strategies such as relaxation, exercise, and yoga. MBSR therapies aim to reduce stress and cardiovascular disease risk by promoting positive adaptations to life stressors.

Mindfulness strategies may reduce stress and cardiovascular disease risk in women veterans. Dr. Karen Saban is an investigator with the Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Health Care at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. She is researching the impact of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program, that includes strategies such as relaxation, exercise, and yoga. MBSR therapies aim to reduce stress and cardiovascular disease risk by promoting positive adaptations to life stressors.

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (Little Rock)

Dr. Steven A. Schichman, director of the Pharmacogenomics Analysis Laboratory at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, demonstrates operation of a high-precision microarray scanner that supports precision medicine research. (From left to right: Dr. Schichman, Dr. Richard Owen, and Dr. Richard Dennis.)

Dr. Steven A. Schichman, director of the Pharmacogenomics Analysis Laboratory at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, demonstrates operation of a high-precision microarray scanner that supports precision medicine research. (From left to right: Dr. Schichman, Dr. Richard Owen, and Dr. Richard Dennis.)

Michelle Griffin at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System loads DNA methylation microarrays for epigenome-wide association studies led by the National Center for PTSD.

Michelle Griffin at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System loads DNA methylation microarrays for epigenome-wide association studies led by the National Center for PTSD. 

Joshua Williams at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System prepares a panel of pharmacogenetic DNA targets for genotyping on the MassARRAY System mass spectrometer.

Joshua Williams at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System prepares a panel of pharmacogenetic DNA targets for genotyping on the MassARRAY System mass spectrometer. 

VA Maryland Health Care System

Dr. Robert Oakes, a VA Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development career development awardee, unpacks his first instrument purchased to support VA-sponsored research. Dr. Oakes’ research focuses on the development of novel treatments and drug delivery approaches for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis.

Dr. Robert Oakes, a VA Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development career development awardee, unpacks his first instrument purchased to support VA-sponsored research. Dr. Oakes’ research focuses on the development of novel treatments and drug delivery approaches for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis.

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (Human Engineering Research Laboratory)

The Human Engineering Research Laboratory has spearheaded development and testing of the MEBot Wheelchair, a robotic mobility device that can climb curbs and navigate rough terrain while maximizing user safety. (Seated in the MEBot: Dr. Jorge Candiotti. Photo courtesy HERL VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.)

The Human Engineering Research Laboratory has spearheaded development and testing of the MEBot Wheelchair, a robotic mobility device that can climb curbs and navigate rough terrain while maximizing user safety. (Seated in the MEBot: Dr. Jorge Candiotti. Photo courtesy HERL VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.)

VA Portland Healthcare System (National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research--NCRAR)

Research coordinator Stephanie Edmunds and audiologist Dan McDermott at the VA Portland Healthcare System in Oregon work with audiometry equipment.  (Photo by Cody Goheen, VA Portland Healthcare System.)

Research coordinator Stephanie Edmunds and audiologist Dan McDermott at the VA Portland Healthcare System in Oregon work with audiometry equipment. (Photo by Cody Goheen, VA Portland Healthcare System.)

VA Portland research audiologist Dan McDermott tests the AudioStar audiometer, a device used to measure hearing acuity.  (Photo by Stephanie Edmunds, VA Portland Healthcare System.)

VA Portland research audiologist Dan McDermott tests the AudioStar audiometer, a device used to measure hearing acuity. (Photo by Stephanie Edmunds, VA Portland Healthcare System.)

Research coordinator Cody Goheen and audiologist Dan McDermott demonstrate audiometry administration and data collection at the VA Portland Healthcare System. (Photo by Stephanie Edmunds, VA Portland Healthcare System.)

Research coordinator Cody Goheen and audiologist Dan McDermott demonstrate audiometry administration and data collection at the VA Portland Healthcare System. (Photo by Stephanie Edmunds, VA Portland Healthcare System.)

South Texas Veterans Health Care System

VA researcher Dr. Stacy Hussong uses electrophysiology techniques in her laboratory to measure synaptic changes in brain cells to support research into Alzheimer’s disease.

VA researcher Dr. Stacy Hussong uses electrophysiology techniques in her laboratory to measure synaptic changes in brain cells to support research into Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Naomi Sayre uses a microscope to help understand how the brain changes after a traumatic brain injury.

Dr. Naomi Sayre uses a microscope to help understand how the brain changes after a traumatic brain injury.



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