Current Research Projects

ASPIRED: Alleviating Suicidality by Combining Psychotherapy and IM Ketamine for Rapid Treatment in the Emergency Department – A Randomized Clinical Trial

Emergency Medicine, in collaboration with the STRONG STAR Consortium for the alleviation of PTSD, is carrying out a pilot study to assess the feasibility of administering a one-time intramuscular (IM) injection of ketamine paired with a brief, CBT-based psychosocial intervention called Crisis Response Plan to acutely suicidal patients in the ED.  Dr. Robert De Lorenzo serves as PI and lead researcher on the project, with Dr. Romeo Fairley serving as Co-PI.  Awarded $3.1 million, DoD Funded.

Assessing Potential Adjunct Medications Such as Hydroxocobalamin and Methylene Blue, with REBOA, in the Management of Hemorrhage in a large Animal (SUS SCROFA) Model of Polytrauma

Led by Dr. Patrick Ng, the objective of the study is to compare the efficacy of hydroxocobalamin (HOC) and methylene blue (MB) each in combination with whole blood (WB), to be used as adjunct resuscitative therapies to prevent the cardiovascular collapse associated with deflation of a Zone 1 REBOA balloon after polytrauma.  Awarded $500K, TRC4 funded.

Echocardiography and Lung Evaluation while visiting Altitude – Transient Extremes (ELEVATE)

Led by Dr. Savannah Chavez, the study aims to test the TE Air interface and measurement capabilities on mobile devices and plan to demonstrate it as a viable option in the austere environment, given its desirable characteristics of ight weight, portability, and multi-purpose probe.  Awarded $200K, TRC4 Funded.

SIREN Network

Our Department is a clinical site for the NIH SIREN Network (Strategies to Innovate EmeRgENcy Care Clinical Trials Network).  We are excited to be involved with SIREN and the upcoming research studies the network will execute/conduct.  The goal of the SIREN Network is to improve the outcomes of patients with neurologic, cardiac, respiratory and hematologic emergencies by identifying effective treatments given in the earliest stages of care.

Airway Resuscitation Research

Dr. Robert De Lorenzo is the lead investigator on this effort to develop an autonomous and automatic airway and suction device suitable for use by pre- hospital personnel in far-forward and austere settings.  This multi-faceted endeavor involves collaborations with investigators, researchers, and physicians from the Long School of Medicine’s Department of Anesthesiology, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UTSA’s College of Engineering, Southwest Research Institute, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, and Brooke Army Medical Center.

Vancomycin Powder for Acute, Long-Bone, Open- Fracture Infection Prophylaxis

Emergency Medicine is coordinating and executing a study that will gauge the efficacy of powdered vancomycin in the use of long-bone open fractures.  This project partners Emergency Medicine with investigators at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Brooke Army Medical Center, and the Long School of Medicine’s Department of Orthopaedic Trauma and Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery.  Dr. Robert De Lorenzo is the lead researcher on this project.