The SwRI-developed human head surrogate and its test methodology show great potential for providing insights into injuries resulting from a variety of ballistic threats. With it, designers will be able to craft helmets that offer improved protection for warfighters.

The applicant's career goal is to become a surgeon-scientist studying translational research in regenerative medicine. A comprehensive mentoring plan with a team of mentors of diverse backgrounds will ensure the applicant's career development. The proposed studies will address the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) on the regulation of macrophage polarization in vitro and in the dynamic tissue events during skeletal muscle injury, macrophage recruitment, angiogenesis, and muscle regeneration.

Chronic stress is a factor in many psychiatric diseases, such as depression, PTSD and other anxiety disorders. The brain noradrenergic (NE) system is important in arousal and acute stress reactivity, and is implicated in the etiology of stress-related psychiatric disorders. In the previus grant period, we showed that increasing NE transmission acutely in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rats facilitates cognitive flexibility on an attentional setshifting test (AST). By contrast, chonic unpredictable stress (CUS) compromised cognitive flexibility.

Basic Research

Applied Research

Basic Research

Development Research

Applied Research

Development Research