The VA Medical Center at Dallas (VAMCD) is a major site for clinical investigation for researchers at the Center for Human Nutrition. Much of the research published from the Center in the past 18 years was carried out at the VAMCD. One of the strong features of the Center is the VAMCD's commitment to a metabolic ward. Six to 10 hospital beds have been devoted to nutritional and metabolic disorders. Patients with various chronic disorders are admitted to the metabolic ward for detailed study and treatment. Some of the patients are studied under VA approved protocols. Others are admitted for individual therapies. The VA provides nursing and technical support to maintain the metabolic ward. Plans are on the drawing board for an expanded metabolic ward in the coming years.
An adjunct to the metabolic ward are three clinics: the Lipid Clinic, the Diabetes Clinic, and the Endocrine Clinic. The Lipid Clinic has both a patient management component and a clinical investigation component. Clinics for patient management are held twice per week. This clinic is closely affiliated with the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, which refers many patients with cardiovascular disease for evaluation and management. The clinical investigative arm of the Lipid Clinic meets daily, and patients are seen at the VAMCD's Clinical Research Unit (CRU). The Diabetes Clinic meets twice weekly, and the Endocrine Clinic meets weekly.
The Center for Human Nutrition also has a 2000 sq. ft research laboratory at the VAMCD. This laboratory contains the Core Laboratory for all of the Center's investigators. It also houses the VA Nutrition and Metabolism research laboratory. Samples obtained on patients from both the metabolic ward and the clinics are analyzed in this laboratory. Several investigators from the Center for Human Nutrition participate in clinical and research activities at the VAMCD. This medical center plays a key role for the clinical investigation component of the Center. The role of each of the investigators can be reviewed briefly.
Scott M. Grundy, M.D., Ph.D. director of the Center for Human Nutrition, also is chief of the Metabolic/ Endocrine section at the VAMCD. He oversees the metabolic ward, the Lipid Clinic, and the research laboratories. Dr. Grundy receives research from the VA to carry out research at VAMCD. He also does attending rounds in Internal Medicine at the VA medical center.
Gloria Lena Vega, Ph.D. directs the VA's Nutrition and Metabolism Laboratory. Included in this laboratory are methods for the study of metabolism including isotopic tracer kinetics and body composition analysis. It also contains methods for lipoprotein profiling, apolipoprotein measurements, genotyping, enzymes, lipid transfer factors, non-esterified fatty acids, hormones, cholesterol balance. It has facilities for data management. The laboratory contains the research administrative office that contains all human subjects records. It also houses the office for subject recruitment for metabolic studies. Dr. Vega participates importantly in the clinical investigation of the VA research program by designing and developing research protocols, obtaining the funding for studies, developing laboratory methods and ensuring their quality control.
Abhimanyu Garg, M.D. Senior Clinical Nutrition Research Scholar, is director of the Diabetes Clinic at VAMCD. Dr. Garg also does attending rounds in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, and teaches medical students and house staff. Diabetes is one of the major chronic diseases in VA patients, and Dr. Garg sets the standards for the overall quality of care in diabetes for these patients. He also does clinical investigation at the VAMCD as well as at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Frederick L. Dunn, M.D. Diabetes and Lipid Clinic at the VA North Texas Health Care System at Dallas. He is an Associate professor in Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Dunn directs the Diabetes Clinic and patient education.
Rita Nemons, R.N., is the metabolic nurse assigned to the metabolic ward and Lipid Clinic by the VAMCD. She works closely with Drs. Grundy and Cater in overseeing management of patients on the metabolic ward and in the Lipid Clinic. Ms. Meno plays a vital role as being a contact person for all of the patients being seen by Drs. Grundy and Cater. Laura Caldwell, P.A.C, is a Physician Assistant who works closely with Drs. Vega and Cater in carrying out protocols in clinical investigation. She is responsible for monitoring patients clinical status after recruitment into research protocols, and she keeps detailed records on their progress.
