Advanced Platform Technology Center

As VA #Research Week comes to an end, we wanted to thank our Investigators, staff, and trainees for their continuous dedication to developing new #innovations and advancing #technologies to support our nations #Veterans. We could not thrive as a research center without each and every one of our amazing team members. Below are some of our staff and students having fun at the research day photo booth! Dakota Noble Lindsey Hauck Eileen Petros Hannah Morgan Jessica Jarvela Hamid Charkhkar Suzhou Li Gabrielle Labrozzi Raychel Testa

Yesterday afternoon we had the pleasure of meeting U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough while he was visiting the Louis Stokes Cleveland Vamc. Pictured below is one of our dedicated #Veteran research participants, John, telling Secretary McDonough about our cutting-edge #research led by APTC Executive Director Dr. Ronald Triolo and Investigator Dr. Hamid Charkhkar to restore sensation to those with lower limb loss. It was an honor to meet you, Secretary McDonough!

This week we celebrate the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National VA Research Week and today, May 14th, the Louis Stokes Cleveland Vamc research day event is underway 11a-1p! Stop by the basement lobby to learn more about all the amazing research happening here with the APT Center, Cleveland FES Center, general VA research and more. This event features program information booths, upwards of 20 research posters on display, a research themed photobooth, and refreshments. Thanks to APTC PhD students Gabrielle Labrozzi and Eileen Petros and Engineer Raychel Testa for manning our APT info booth and spreading the word about our cutting-edge research projects. Also pictured below are APTC Investigator Dr. Hamid Charkhkar showcasing he and Dr. Ronald Triolo’s work on restoring sensation to lower limb amputees at the poster session, and program manager Stephanie Nogan Bailey highlighting the resources VehiCLE has to offer to help investigators see their innovations come to life! #research #VAresearchweek #innovation #biomedicalengineering #sensation #technology

APTC Investigator Dr. Kath Bogie presented at the EWMA • European Wound Management Association Conference in London showcasing her team's work on their electroceutical bandage that helps decrease infections and accelerate healing of chronic ischemic wounds. Great job representing the APTC at this international conference!

Check out our 2024 Spring Translation Builder Newsletter! Click the link below to learn about some of our accomplishments over the past year, recent Veteran outreach efforts, media features, and more! #research #researchanddevelopment #engineering #innovation #scienceandtechnology

This week, the Cleveland VA Medical Center hosted it's VA Patient Experience Event Fair! This event was part of 2024 VA patient experience week during which the medical center hosted various events and focused outreach efforts to spread the word about all the wonderful services we have available to our Veterans. The APTC exhibited at the fair to Veteran patients as well as a variety of VA clinicians, employees, staff, and caregivers. Pictured below are Investigator Dr. Sandra Hnat and Occupational Therpist Chris Cowen advertising the APTC and recruiting for our ongoing research studies! #research #outreach #innovation #scienceandtechnology

This month’s APTC Spotlight goes to Jessica Jarvela! Jessica joined the APTC team last year after gaining over 20 years of experience as a researcher. She works as a clinical research study coordinator providing crucial clinical, technical, and regulatory assistance to the APTC lab groups studying sensory feedback in both upper and lower limb amputees. We are happy to have Jessica on our team, thank you for all your great work to help Veterans with limb loss! Jessica is pictured below her husband and two daughters. #research #researchcoordinator #amputee #limblossresearch #sensation

Congratulations to APTC PhD student Suzhou Li on receiving the 2024 Kouros Azar Neural Engineering Research Award from Case Western Reserve University! Each year, this award is presented to the student with the best PhD thesis in the Neural Engineering field. Suzhou is a member of APTC’s Restoring Lower Limb Neural Connection (ReLLiNC) Lab working under the mentorship of APT Executive Director Dr. Ronald Triolo and Investigator Dr. Hamid Charkhkar. Click below to read Suzhou’s winning thesis abstract and learn more about his work on developing neuroprostheses that restore plantar sensation to Veterans with lower limb amputations!

The APTC had the pleasure of hosting our annual Executive Committee Meeting. This committee consists of leaders from the VA and our partnering institutions Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, The MetroHealth System (Cleveland, OH), and Veteran Service Organizations. Thank you to all the committee members for providing insight and guidance so that our Center will be successful for many years to come! Jill Dietrich Mellon, Eric Boss, Margaret Kinnard, Neal Peachey, Robert Bonomo, Brad Dicianno, MD, J. Michael Oakes, William Schiemann, Christian Zorman, Robert Kirsch, Geoff Vince, John Chae, Carl Harris, Drost, Jacob, Jon Reiss, Jeff Moore, Margot Damaser, Ronald Triolo, Jonathan Z Baskin, MD FACS, Clay Kelly, Steve Majerus, Jeffrey R Capadona, Gilles Pinault

Ozan Akkus, the Kent Hale Smith Professor of Engineering and a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, explained the newly funded research to grow replacement joints using patient cells to treat osteoarthritis, a condition where joint tissues break down over time, leading to pain and restricted mobility on Ideastream Public Media.