Atlanta VAHCS researchers recognized for outstanding achievements

The Atlanta Veterans Health Administration's Office of Research and Development (ORD) is pleased to announce the recipients of the FY25 VISN 7 Research & Development Career Development and VACO ORD Mert Awardees. 

These awards aim to foster exceptional talent in biomedical laboratory, clinical science, health services, and rehabilitation research to improve the future of healthcare for Veterans. This year’s VISN 7 Awardees, Jabril Johnson, PhD and Alexandra Migdal, MD. This year's Merit-funded Awardees, Luke Brewster, MD, Louise Hecker, PhD, and Phil Rather, PhD, are esteemed experts in their respective fields, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to their research. 

According to Dr. Michael Hart, associate chief of staff with VA Atlanta's ORD, "Out of a pool of highly competitive applicants with compelling research topics, the final candidates were the ones whose proposed research best aligned with VA's strategic focus areas and addressed core health issues many Veterans face today.

The RDA and Merit Awards are part of ORD's competitive Career Development Award Program, specifically designed to attract, develop, and retain talented VA researchers and foster a culture of innovation and excellence within the VA system. RDA attracts and supports entry-level and mid-level researchers. The Merit Award funds seasoned and accomplished VA experts focused on innovative topics and taking their research to the next level. 

Dr. Luke Brewster is a vascular surgeon-scientist committed to reducing amputations and improving the mobility of Veterans with diabetes and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Dr. Brewster and his team have identified a unique intracellular signaling defect in diabetic mesenchymal stem cells that can be favorably modified to improve the energy production of these cells. This study will assess the effectiveness, durability, and mechanism by which this approach works under diabetic conditions using relevant in vitro and in vivo models. “Our work is identifying ways of regenerating muscle and innervating that muscle for optimal function. Results of this work are designed to be incorporated into the newest therapies for Veterans with muscle wasting due to poor blood flow," said Dr. Brewster. Dr. Brewster is a leader in treating vascular disease, serves as the section chief for vascular surgery at the VA Atlanta, and leads a robust vascular program. Concurrently, he is an associate professor at Emory University School of Medicine and the vascular lead for the University's Vascular Imaging Program. 

Dr. Louise Hecker is a leading regenerative biology researcher specializing in pulmonology. She plans to conduct a study to reduce the high mortality rate of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which currently stands at around 40%. "Our aging Veteran population is at an increased risk for ARDS, and there are currently no FDA-approved drug treatments for this condition. However, research indicates that targeting age-related pathological mechanisms may enhance survival rates for elderly ARDS patients," said Dr. Hecker. Her study focuses on developing a new therapeutic approach using lung targeting Nox4 inhibitors to address specific defective mechanisms associated with aging, aiming to improve survival rates for ARDS patients. Dr. Hecker has an extensive research background and training primarily focused on regenerative biology, and she specializes in development, regeneration, tissue engineering, and injury repair. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of how normal physiological repair responses "go awry" during aging. She also studies how this contributes to the development of age-dependent lung diseases. Additionally, she is pioneering translational medicine approaches, such as developing improved animal models for pre-clinical testing and novel therapeutic strategies that target age-associated pathological mechanisms to promote repair. In addition to being a VA research scientist, Dr. Hecker is also an associate professor of medicine at Emory University Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonology, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. 

Dr. Philip Rather, Ph.D., is focused on halting the spread of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), a highly dangerous bacterial pathogen responsible for life-threatening infections in VA, civilian, and military hospitals. With over 2 million infections worldwide resulting in 450,000 annual deaths, the frequency of A. baumannii infections has nearly doubled in the last four years. Antibiotic resistance has become a critical issue with the emergence of pan-resistant strains. Dr. Philip Rather and his team have identified a central regulator of the switch that causes A. baumannii to alternate between virulent and avirulent states. This switch serves as an "Achilles heel" for A. baumannii, as methods to convert virulent cells to avirulent or lock cells in the avirulent state would render the cells unable to cause disease. "Our recently funded Merit Review will explore the regulation of this virulence switch in A. baumannii to develop novel translational interventions that block virulence," said Dr. Rather. So far, Dr. Rather's team has developed an A. baumannii strain that, when locked in the avirulent state, behaves as a highly effective vaccine, offering 100% protection in mouse models. In addition, they have identified a small molecule that shifts cells from the virulent to the avirulent state, representing a novel therapy for disabling virulence in this increasingly devastating bacterial pathogen. "Our work showcases how understanding the fundamental aspects of A. baumannii biology and gene regulation can lead to innovative interventions to prevent disease. This vaccine may eventually safeguard high-risk patients from developing A. baumannii infections," explained Dr. Rather.

The VA Southeast Network Veterans Integrated Service Network’s (VISN 7) Research Development Award (RDA) recipients are Jabril Johnson, PhD, and Alexandra Migdal, MD. Awardees receive salary support for up to two years of mentoring from established VA researchers. VISN 7 is a VA service network covering 1.25 million Veterans in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. 

Dr. Jabril Johnson is trained and experienced in cancer stem cell biology during mammary carcinogenesis and the impact of vitamin D on pathway signaling during prostate cancer development. His research focuses on the immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D, immune signaling in the prostate microenvironment, and the identification of biomarkers in men at risk for or diagnosed with prostate cancer. 

Dr. Alexandra Migdal is a diabetes and metabolism endocrinologist specializing in treating hormone-related conditions, including diabetes, thyroid disease, pituitary gland issues, and hormonal imbalances.