Office of Naval Research Awards Grant to VCURES to Develop a Novel Method of Treatment for Acute Decompression Illness:

A team of VCURES' investigators led by VCURES' Director Bruce Spiess MD, was awarded a 3 year grant for $950,754 from the Office of Naval Research entitled: Coordinated Studies into the Mechanisms of Organ Projection from Decompression Sickness by Perfluorcarbon Emulsions. Decompression illness occurs when a diver ascends to the water's surface too quickly. Nitrogen gas that was dissolved in the blood stream forms bubbles and these bubbles clog important blood vessels supplying oxygen to the heart, brain, and spinal cord. This can result in massive stroke, paralysis and death. The project examines the novel use of perfluorocarbon (PFCs) emulsions to carry and eliminate nitrogen as it comes out of solution during assent and to preserve oxygen delivery to vital tissues. PFCs are capable of carrying 100 times more nitrogen and oxygen than plasma. Dr. Spiess who is also Vice Chairman of the Department of Anesthesia and Chief of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia pioneered the concept of using PFCs to prevent neurologic damage from air emboli over 10 years ago. The current project will also expand our understanding of how PFCs transport oxygen to the microcirculation which will have profound implications in our understanding on how PFCs might be use to treat hemorrhage, myocardial infarction, and stroke.

Members of the research team include:

Bruce Spiess, MD: Department of Anesthesiology
Jiepei Zhu, PhD: Department of Anesthesiology
R. Wayne Barbee, PhD: Departments of Emergency Medicine and Physiology
Brian Berger, MS: Department of Anesthesiology Octavio Falcucci, MD: Department of Anesthesiology
Kevin Ward, MD: Departments of Emergency Medicine and Physiology

VCURES is playing an important role in the U.S. Navy's Disabled Submarine Initiative, which aims to maximize crew survival in the event that a disabled submarine is unable to surface. The recent Russian Kursk submarine catastrophe is one such example why and innovative strategy is needed. Dr. Spiess is acting as a key consultant to the Navy on this initiative. For more information please contact Dr. Spiess at bdspiess@vcu.edu