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RESEARCH
Local Research, Worldwide Implications guided through the body with the use of
magnets. After receiving a $5,000 grant
T he Medcen Community Health project improve community health and health from Medcen to develop the prototype,
Foundation, Navicent Health is education, does it promote multidisciplinary or Dr. Gabriel received approval to
charged with the purpose of funding interdepartmental collaboration, does it conduct clinical trials at Medical Center,
provide opportunities to upgrade and enhance Navicent Health. The success of clinical
local healthcare initiatives that educational and health skills and does it trials was published in the medical
promote excellence in medical and clinical journal Critical Care Medicine and was
support the health and wellness of those living education? We are amazed each year at the very well received by the medical
number of outstanding, groundbreaking community. The initial success led to a
in our region. What many may not realize is research going on right here in central $1.2 million grant from the National
Georgia,” said Dr. Gene Battles, Chair of Institute of Health for further
part of Medcen's mission includes funding local Medcen's Research and Education Committee. development of the device and a
multicenter clinical trial. The Gabriel
research that could reach well beyond Georgia While the emphasis for funding is on local Feeding Tube is not only used in
research performed by local healthcare hospitals around the world, but has also
in terms of its medical impact. professionals, the implications of the research been utilized on the battlefields of Iraq
performed in central Georgia can have a much and Afghanistan.
In 2014, Medcen distributed $118,801.00 to wider effect on healthcare. For example, when
fund nine local research projects. Research is Medical Center, Navicent Health physician Dr. “The Medcen grant provided essential
performed primarily by physicians, residents, Sabry Gabriel was a resident, he had a novel seed money to make the first prototype
nurses and students at Navicent Health and idea for a feeding tube that could easily be and conduct an IRB-approved clinical
Mercer University School of Medicine trial at Medical Center, Navicent
(MUSM). Health. When the information from the
clinical trial was published. I received
“Through the Research and Education Grant inquiries about the device from
Program, Medcen will fund up to $20,000 for physicians in 20 different countries. The device
projects that meet four criteria – does the has been used at hospitals in Japan, England,
Greece, Portugal, the Netherlands, Canada,
Chili and many states beyond Georgia,” said
Dr. Gabriel.
Medical Center, Navicent Health Associate
Director of Critical Care Dr. Amy Christie and
her team are hopeful that their research will
have a similar worldwide impact. The team
received a $20,000 grant in 2014 to study the
predictive value of a neuromarker in traumatic
brain injury patients in hopes of determing
how long patients with traumatic brain injury
should undergo active fever prevention.
Research will take place in Medical Center,
Navicent Health's Surgical Trauma Intensive
Care Unit.
“As trauma critical care physicians, we work
hard to prevent fever during the acute phase of
severe traumatic brain injury. The concern is
that fever may increase the risk of secondary
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