TTUHSC Surgery Burn Center of Research Excellence (BCoRE)

Mission statement:

To be a Center for Excellence in Research covering the entire spectrum of burn injury, from microscopic alterations at the cellular level to the clinical care of the whole person to the impact of burn injuries on society. This includes injury prevention, disaster planning, initial response and resuscitation, critical care, pain control, infectious complications, nutrition, surgical management, wound care, psychosocial issues and long term rehabilitation.

Goals:

To facilitate collaboration in basic science and clinical research across the disciplines of microbiology, biochemistry, medicine, surgery, nursing, physical therapy, psychology and occupational therapy, in order to:

Increase the scientific knowledge related to burn injuries and resulting complications
Develop new tools and strategies for the clinical care of acutely injured patients
Describe epidemiologic characteristics of burn injuries
Develop protocols for injury prevention and disaster/ mass casualty planning
Investigate novel strategies in the management of acute and chronic wounds
Create effective and integrated protocols for pain control, stress disorder, long term rehabilitation and transition to regular life post- burn injury
Leverage emerging technologies to improve clinical care of acutely injured patients (Machine learning, image processing, artificial intelligence, etc.)
Leverage the built environment to allow for streamlined care of acutely injured patients

Objectives:

Develop research collaborations between clinical and basic science departments within TTUHSC
Develop research collaborations between TTUHSC and UMC
Broaden the impact of our scientific work through publications, presentations at national meetings and collaborations with outside institutions involved in burn research
Broaden the impact of our scientific work through innovation and entrepreneurship (TTUHSC Innovation hub, Regional and NSF I-Corp grants)

Faculty:

Kendra Rumbaugh, PhD

John Griswold, MD (Assistant Director),
Abdul Hamood, PhD,

Jenna Kesey, FNP,

Background:

bcore The topic of burns and wounds has been a fertile ground for research at TTUHSC for several years, with multiple peer reviewed publications and presentations at national and international meetings. The burn research program has also facilitated the involvement of TTUHSC faculty, residents, medical students and undergraduates in basic science and clinical research, providing the first research opportunity for many junior investigators. The designation as a TTUHSC Research Center of Excellence will serve to recognize these efforts both intra and extramurally, as well as develop the basic and clinical science infrastructure in order to be competitive for grant funding at both local and national levels. Formalization as a center will also facilitate access by students from all schools at TTUHSC as well as promote collaboration with outside organizations and individuals. Finally, a designated center of excellence will promote national recognition of the scientific work being done at TTUHSC and help recruit talented individuals interested in this area of research at all levels.

Burn care has historically been a multidisciplinary field from its inception as a separate specialty in the 1950s, with physicians, nurses, wound care technicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists being recognized as equally important to the well-being of the burned patient. Perhaps in no other field of medicine is the concept of a team approach so firmly embedded. This is evident even at the national level with the American Burn Association (ABA) leadership comprised of representation from all specialties. This approach is well suited to translational research and collaboration, and is a likely factor in the high research productivity of the burn center despite a relatively small core physician faculty.

BCoRE Related Activities:

Dr. Abdul Hamood

Kruczek C, Qaisar U, Colmer-Hamood JA, Hamood AN. 2013. Serum influences the expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing genes and QS-controlled virulence genes during early and late stages of growth. MicrobiologyOpen. doi: 10.1002/mbo3.147 (Epub ahead of print).

Kyle G. Miller, Phat L. Tran, Cecily L. Haley, Matt Myntti, Jane A. Colmer-Hamood, and Abdul N. Hamood. A Novel Agent That Inhibits Biofilm Development by Gram-positive and Gram-negative Wound Pathogens (submitted).

CH Foundation: Abdul Hamood (PI), 01/01/2014-12/30/2014, Title: A Potential Therapy for Burn Wound Infections

Dr. John Griswold

A Retrospective Study Analyzing Aesthesia Intubation Criteria in Burn Patients @
International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) and Society of Critical Care Anesthesia (SOCCA) Research Conference, Seattle, WA, May 18-20, 2024

Sara Syed Ahmend B.S., Emily Brumfield B.S., Sulaiman Karim B.S., Heba Alghoul M.D., Theophilus Pham M.D., Alan Pang, M.D., & John Griswold M.D. Antihistamines vs. Resuscitation Requirements and Rate of Complications in Burn Injuries: A Retrospective Study. American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Poster Presentation, Sept 20-23, 2023. Accepted

Brown E, Koshy R, Credo R, Grossman H, Hardy K, Rizvi M, Alshaikhsalama M, Devega R, Bharadia D, Pang AW, Griswold J. Autologous keratinocyte suspension in conjunction with fibrin sealant for the treatment of partial thickness burns. John A. Boswick M.D. Burn and Wound Healing Symposium, 2022. Podium Presentation.

Pang AW, Pham T, Raghuram A, Zeitouni J, Aickareth G, Dang M, Bharadia D, Griswold J. Comparison of Amalgatome SD to standard dermatome for surgical excision of burns and skin graft harvesting. John A. Boswick M.D. Burn and Wound Healing Symposium, 2022.

Perabo, A, Robison, K, Pang, AW, Bharadia, D, Griswold, J. “Lidocaine and Ketamine as Sedation for Burn Wound Care in a Pediatric Patient: a case report.” North Texas Chapter of American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting, Poster Presentation, 2022.

Zeitouni, J, Pang, AW, Bradshaw, E, Rizvi, M, Bharadia, D, Griswold, J. “Alkali injury with non-operative management in a pediatric patient: a case report.” North Texas Chapter of American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting, Poster Presentation, 2022.

Bruce, J, McGregor, A, Kesey, J, Pang, AW, Griswold, J. “Charge capture in the BICU: Increasing Revenue by Improving Documentation.” North Texas Chapter of American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting, Podium Presentation, 2022.

Koshy, R, Brown, E, Pang, AW, Bharadia, D, Griswold, J. “Postoperative Splinting vs free range of motion and effect on healing time of ReCell for partial thickness burns.” North Texas Chapter of American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting, Podium Presentation, 2022.

Bradshaw, E, Pang, AW, Bharadia, D. “Using Geography as a Predictive Factor of Outcomes in Burn Care Follow-up in Rural West Texas.” North Texas Chapter of American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting, Poster Presentation, 2022.

Brown E, Koshy R, Credo R, Grossman H, Hardy K, Rizvi M, Alshaikhsalama M, Devega R, Bharadia D, Pang AW, Griswold J. “Range of motion in ReCell plus STSG vs STSG alone in 2nd and 3rd degree burns.” North Texas Chapter of American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting, Poster Presentation, 2022.

Pang AW, Pham T, Felan S, Raghuram A, Terry M, Bharadia D, Griswold J. Autologous skin cell suspension application for toxic epidermal necrolysis: a case report. American Burn Association Annual Conference, Poster Presentation, 2022.
2022 American Burn Association Annual Conference – Las Vegas, Nevada

Acute Intermittent Porphyria in a Burn Patient: Case Study and Review of the Literature. Credo, Roald Send mail to Credo R.; Kesey, Jennifer; Bharadia, Deepak; Griswold, John; Pang, Alan. Journal of Burn Care and Research. Volume 45, Issue 3, Pages 790 - 7951 May 2024.

Assessing resuscitation in burn patients with varying degrees of liver disease. Abla, Habiba; Tran, Viviea; Pang, Alana; Stroever, Stephanie, Shaw, Chip; Dissanaike, Sharmila; Griswold, John. Burns. Volume 50, Issue 4, Pages 991 - 996. May 2024.

Paul Glat, MD; Lisa Quirk, CRNP; Scott Hultman, MD; Jennifer Kesey, PhD; Arpana Jain, MD; John Griswold, MD; Fitzgerald Natalie, BSN; Lucy Wibbenmeyer, MD; Hamed Amani, MD; Caryn Cramer, PhD, ; William L Hickerson, MD, “Establishing Consensus of Best Practice for CEA Use in Treatment of Severe Burns: A US Burn Provider Delphi Study” Epicel Consensus Manuscript. Accepted April 2024

Report of outcomes in burn patients enrolled in the Cultured epidermal autograft prospective Registry. Fagan, Shawn; Hassan, Zaheed; Homsombath, Bounthavy; Sood, Rajiv; Hardy, Kade; Craft-Coffman, Beretta; Hartman, Brett C.; Cramer, Caryn; Griswold, John. Burns Open Open Access Volume 8, Issue 1, Pages 29 - 34. January 2024.

Abla, Habib MS; Pang, Alan MD; Shaw, Chip PhD; Bharadia, Deepak MD, MPH, FACS,; Griswold, John MD, FACS “Assessing Resuscitation Needs in Burn Patients with Varying Degrees of Liver Disease” Journal of the American College of Surgeons Accepted January 2024

Arden Perabo, Kathryn Keeney, Alan Pang, MD, Deepak Bharadia, MD, John Griswold MD. “Lidocaine and Ketamine as Sedation for Burn Wound Care in a Pediatric Patient: a Case Report”. Journal of Acute Care Surgery. Submitted November 2023.

Roald Credo, BS MS, Elizabeth Brown, BS, Zheyar Seyan, BS, Elwin Rutayomba, BS, Taylor Prosser, BS, Alan Pang, MD and John Anthony. Griswold, MD FACS. “Investigation of Operating Time with Autologous Skin Cell Suspension on Burn Patients. American College of Surgeons. Accepted May 24, 2023

Elizabeth Brown, Michael Dang, Alan Pang, MD., Senja Collins, Abbye Dixon, Deepak Bharadia, MD. John Griswold, MD. “Serial Casting for the improvement of joint contracture after burn injury, a case report” Burns. Published June 2023

Bruce J, McGregor A, Garcia H, Banafshay K, Brumfield E, Pang A, Bharadia D, Griswold J. “Charge Capture in the BICU: Increasing Revenue by Improving Documentation Behaviors” Burns. Submitted March 2023

A modern-day research model for large academic institutions: A fellow-based solution. Alan Pang, Jad Zeitouni, Ferris Zeitouni, Jennifer Kesey, John Griswold. Surgery in Practice and Science. Volume 14, September 2023.

Kopel J, Moreno T, Singh S, Van-Spronsen N, Sorensen G, Griswold J. Central diabetes insipidus and burn trauma. Scars, Burns & Healing. 2022;8.

Ferris Zeitouni, MS, Christina Zhu, BS, BA, Alan Pang, MD, Scott O’Banion, PharmD, Deepak Bharadia, MD, MPH, John Griswold, MD. Vitamin A-Induced Hypercalcemia in Burn Patients: A Case Study. Journal of Burn Care & Research, Volume 43, Issue 6, November/December 2022, Pages 1445–1448.

Schmitz B, Griswold JA: “Airway Management in Burn Patients”, Airway Management. Benumof & Hagberg 3rd edition. 2013, 44: pp 902-909

Griswold JA: "Burns: Physical and Chemical Injuries", Conn's Current Therapy. editor: Rakel RE. W.B. Saunders Co., 1996, pp 1127-1131

Mitchell M, Griswold J: "Management of Multiple Trauma." In: General Surgery. editors: Ritchie WP, Steele G, Dean RH. Philadelphia. J.B. Lippincott, 1995,pp.919-928.

Griswold JA: "Sodium Concentrations and Burn Shock Resuscitation." Problems in General Surgery. J.B. Lippincott, 1994, 11:4, pp. 566-576

WTPENA Trauma Symposium. Recent Advances in Burn Care and Recovery. [10/21/2021]

UMCP Grand Rounds. Burns & Minor Trauma. [6/22/2021]

Trauma Grand Rounds TTUHSC El Paso. Update on evaluation and early management of the burn injured patient. [5/20/2021]

Southern Region Burn Conference Live Event. Virtual tour of the TJH Burn Center. [2/16/2021]

Dr. Alan Pang

2024 Texas Tech Accelerator Start-Up Grant – Industry Advancement Technology (iAT) accelerator track – CEO – Burn Length of Stay (BloS)

2023 National Science Foundation Innovation Corp regional grant – Primary Investigator Great Lakes Regional I-Corps Hub Program – Spring Cohort #2 Machine learning image processing of thermal injury
2023 Texas Tech University Amarillo Regional Innovation Corp Program - Machine learning image processing of inhalational injury

2022 CH Foundation Grant – Market Research funding for machine learning in burns University of California – Berkeley Regional Innovation Corp Program - Machine learning image processing of thermal injury Texas Tech University Regional Innovation Corp Program -Supply chain management for fecal transplants

Abla, H, Pang, AW, Shaw, C, Bharadia, D, Griswold, J. Assessing Resuscitation Needs in Burn Patients with Varying Degrees of Liver Disease, Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2022;235(5):S275-S275. DOI: 10.1097/01.XCS.0000895168.51755.c4.

Grossman, H, Pang, AW, Griswold, J. Treatment of Severe Road Rash with ReCell Autologous Skin Cell Suspension. Journal of Burn Care & Research. 2023;44(3):731-733. https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/irad028

Pang A, Abla H, Felan S, Griswold J. Autologous skin cell suspension in toxic epidermal necrolysis: a case series. Journal of Burn Care and Research. 2023;44(2):481-484. https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/irac182

Credo, R,Pang, AW, Griswold, J. Acute Intermittent Porphyria in a Burn Patient: Case Study and Review of the Literature. J Burn Care Res. Published online September 20, 2023;irad135.

Adu, Y, Pang, AW, Johnston, R, et. al. Risk Factors for Reintubation and Subsequent Mortality: A Retrospective Study. May 2024. Poster Presentation. 2024 International Anesthesia Research Society: Anesthesia and Analgesia – Seattle, Washington
Adams, E, Pang, AW, Johnston, R, et. al. A retrospective study analyzing anesthesia intubation criteria in burn patients. May 2024. Poster presentation. 2024 International Anesthesia Research Society: Anesthesia and Analgesia – Seattle, Washington
Agyare, K, Pang, AW, Johnston, R, et. Al. Risk factors for Unplanned ICU and Hospital Admissions Following Elective Surgeries: A Retrospective Study. May 2024. Poster Presentation. 2024 International Anesthesia Research Society: Anesthesia and Analgesia – Seattle, Washington
Pang, AW, Li, Y, Chong, J. Deep Learning and Mechanical Ventilation Period Based Inhalational Injury Score. American Burn Association Annual Conference. April 2024. Podium Presentation. 2024 American Burn Association Annual Conference – Chicago, Illinois
Bandaru, V, Pang, AW, Griswold, J, et al. Implementation of a Checklist in Burn Surgery: Usage Improves Operation Efficiency and Cost. Southern Region Burn Conference. November 2023. Podium Presentation. – 1st place overall in podium presentations. 2023 36th Annual Southern Region Burn Conference – Birmingham, Alabama
Bingi, P, Griswold, J, Pang, AW, et. al. Increased Intraoperative Hypothermia in Burn Patients Administered Famotidine Pre-operatively. October 2023. Poster Presentation. 2023 26th Annual Trauma and Critical Care Symposium – Lubbock, Texas
Bradshaw, E, Pang, AW, Bharadia, D, Griswold, J. “Using Geography as a Predictive Factor of Outcomes in Burn Care Follow-up in Rural West Texas.” Telehealth Week, Accepted for Poster Presentation, 2023. 2023 1st Annual Texas Tech University Health Science Center Telehealth Week – Lubbock Texas
Zeitouni, J., Aickareth, G., Pang, AW, Bharadia, D., Griswold, J. The Resemblance of Chemical Pneumonitis Lung Damage to COVID-19 Lung Damage on a CT Scan: A Case Study, CHEST Annual Meeting 2022 October 16-19, 2022. Chest. 2022;162(4):A1. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0012-3692(22)03810-7.

Dr. Kendra Rumbaugh

Bjarnsholt T, Buhlin K, Dufrêne YF, Gomelsky M, Moroni A, Ramstedt M, Rumbaugh KP, Schulte T, Sun L, Åkerlund B, Römling U. Biofilm formation - What we can learn from recent developments. J Intern Med. 2018 Jun 1. doi: 10.1111/joim.12782. PMID: 29856510

Cornforth DM, Dees JL, Ibberson CB, Huse HK, Mathiesen IH, Kirketerp-Møller K, Wolcott RD, Rumbaugh KP, Bjarnsholt T, Whiteley M. Pseudomonas aeruginosa transcriptome during human infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 May 29;115(22):E5125-E5134. PMID: 29856510

Everett J, Gabrilska R, Rumbaugh KP, Vikström E. Assessing Pseudomonas aeruginosa Autoinducer Effects on Mammalian Epithelial Cells. Methods Mol Biol. 2018;1673:213-225. PMID: 29130176

Hamerly T, Everett JA, Paris N, Fisher ST, Karunamurthy A, James GA, Rumbaugh KP, Rhoads DD, Bothner B. Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biomarkers from thermally injured mice in situ using imaging mass spectrometry. Anal Biochem. 2017 Oct 28;539:144-148. PMID:29107579

Smith A.C, Rice A., Sutton R.B., Gabrilska R., Wessel A.K., Whiteley M., and Rumbaugh K.P. Albumin inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing and alters polymicrobial interactions. Infect Immun. 2017 Jun 19. pii: IAI.00116-17. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00116-17. PMID: 28630071

Watters C, Everett JA, Haley C, Clinton A, Rumbaugh KP. Insulin Treatment Modulates the Host Immune System To Enhance Pseudomonas aeruginosa Wound Biofilms. Infect Immun. 2014 Jan;82(1):92-100.

Filiatrault MJ, Tombline G, Wagner VE, Van Alst N, Rumbaugh K, Sokol P, Schwingel J, Iglewski BH. 2013. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1006, Which Plays a Role in Molybdenum Homeostasis, Is Required for Nitrate Utilization, Biofilm Formation, and Virulence. PLoS One.8(2):e55594. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055594. Epub 2013 Feb 8. PMID:23409004

A. Korgaonkar , U. Trivedi , K.P. Rumbaugh , M. Whiteley. 2013. Community surveillance enhances P. aeruginosa virulence during polymicrobial infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jan 15;110(3):1059-64. PMID:23277552

Watters C., Deleon K., Trivedi U., Griswold J.A., Lyte M., Hampel K.J., Wargo M.J., Rumbaugh K.P. 2013. Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms perturb wound resolution and antibiotic tolerance in diabetic mice. Med Med Microbiol Immunol. 2013 Apr;202(2):131-41. (recommended by F1000)

2013 14th International Conference on Pseudomonas (Lausanne, Switzerland). Profiling Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound infections with high-throughput genomic methods. K.H. Turner, U. Trivedi, K. Rumbaugh and M. Whiteley. Selected for Oral Presentation

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Orleans, LA). Chemotaxis contributes to Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence in a thermally injured mouse model of infection. J Everett, K Turner, M Whitely, and K Rumbaugh. Samuel Kaplan Award (1stplace poster presentation)

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Orleans, LA). The Effects of Albumin on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing in the Chronic Wound Environment. A Clinton, J Chavez, Y Mechref, K Rumbaugh. Samuel Kaplan Award (2nd place poster presentation)

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Orleans, LA). Antibiotic Resistance in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Wounds. U Trivedi, S Parameswaran, A Armstrong, S Dissanaike and K Rumbaugh . Poster presentation

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Orleans, LA). The Role of Clostridium perfringens in Multi-Species Wound Biofilms. H Sparks, S DeLeon, A Clinton and K Rumbaugh. Poster presentation

2013 American College of Surgeons (Washington, DC) and American Society for Microbiology (New Orleans, LA). α-Amylase Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms. D Fleming, U Trivedi and K Rumbaugh. Poster presentation

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Orleans, LA). Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing in chronic wound infections. AR Cueva, A Armstrong, J Everett, D Fleming, K Turner, M Whiteley and K Rumbaugh. Poster presentation

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Braunsfels, TX). Is quorum sensing involved in the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in chronic wound infections? Armstrong A., Haley C., Chavez J., Mechref Y., KP Rumbaugh. Poster presentation, Orville Wyss Award for Medical Microbiology, First Place.

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Braunsfels, TX). α-Amylase Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms. Fleming D., Trivedi U., K.P Rumbaugh. Poster presentation, Orville Wyss Award for Medical Microbiology, Honorable Mention.

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Braunsfels, TX). Insulin treatment modifies the mammalian immune response to enhance Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound biofilms. Watters, C., Haley, C., Clinton, A., Rumbaugh, K. P. Charlie Gauntt Award, 2nd place for outstanding oral presentation.

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Braunsfels, TX). Inhibition of quorum sensing in a wound-like environment prevents Pseudomonas aeruginosa from killing Staphylococcus aureus. Clinton A., DeLeon S., Chavez J., Mechref Y., KP Rumbaugh. Poster presentation

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Braunsfels, TX). Pseudomonas aeruginosa chemotaxis towards serum in a thermally injured mouse model of infection. Everett J. and KP Rumbaugh. Poster presentation

2013 American Society for Microbiology (New Braunsfels, TX). Interactions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in dual-species wound biofilms. DeLeon S., Fowler H., Clinton A., KP Rumbaugh. Poster presentation

2013 TTUHSC Student Research Day. Serum Albumin Influences Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Jamerson J., Clinton A., Rumbaugh, K. P. Poster presentation, won 1st place for junior medical student competition

2013 TTUHSC Student Research Day. Utilization of Molecular Sequencing Methods to Characterize the Microflora of Burn Wounds During Initial Hospital Admission. Parameswaran S., Trivedi U., Rumbaugh K., Dowd S., Vega D., Wolcott R., Dissanaike S., Griswold G. Poster presentation

2013 CHD Bioscience, Fort Collins, CO. “Treatments for Common Wounds.” Invited seminar

Extramural awards funded

Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health (Rumbaugh, Co-PI) 2013-1015 $20,000 “Gender Disparity in Burn Injury Survival”
Army Research Office (Rumbaugh, Sub-contract PI; Whiteley, PI) 2013-2017 $194,981 (total subcontract) “Polymicrobial virulence mechanisms in chronic wounds”
CHD Bioscience (Rumbaugh, PI) 2013-2014 $15,100 “Preclinical efficacy study of Veriox to treat chronic wound infections”

Grants submitted and pending approval

NIH/NIAID R15 (Rumbaugh, PI) $448,435 “Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Interspecies Interactions in Wounds”
NIH/NIAID R21 (Rumbaugh, Subcontract-PI) $188,586 (total subcontract) “Genetic determinants of bacterial fitness in polymicrobial wound infections”

Grants submitted but not funded

NIH/NIAID STTR (Rumbaugh, Sub-contract PI; Kaufmann, PI) $305,529 (total subcontract) “Recombinant Human Anti-Pseudomonas Polyclonal Antibodies As Anti-Infectives”

Burn Center of Research Excellence (BCoRE)