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Vol. 30, No. 18 September 6, 2013

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Social Media What’s Inside

USAMMA Civilian EarnsCommander’s Award, p. 4

Collaboration Key to BurnInnovation, p. 5

Ebola Treatment ProtectsPrimates, p. 7

BY LANESSA HILLUSAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

On Aug. 29, Fort Detrick host-ed a 50-year commemoration ofthe Direct Communications Link,more widely known as the Wash-ington-Moscow Hotline at theCommunity Activities Center.

The link was first established bythe U.S. and Soviet governmentsvia undersea cable in August 1963,in the wake of the Cuban MissileCrisis. In the early 1970s, an agree-ment was signed to utilize satellitecommunications in the “Hotline”system and a special earth stationwas built at Fort Detrick to operateover the Russian satellite system.After an extended test period inAugust of 1978, the Detrick EarthStation became part of the “Hot-line” system.

The communications channelsprovided by the Detrick Earth Sta-tion have the highest visibility inboth the U.S. and Russian govern-ments. In addition to the DirectCommunication Link between theAmerican and Russian presidents,the Detrick Earth Station providescommunication links with theRussian Federation in support ofthe State Department’s NuclearRisk Reduction Center, a speciallink connecting the U.S. Secretaryof State with their counterpart inMoscow, as well as circuits for theWhite House CommunicationsAgency, and the Office of the Sec-retary of Defense. “The system isvery robust, as you might imag-ine,” said Craig Bouma, civilianexecutive officer of the DetrickEarth Station. Workers at Detrickhave daily interactions with their

Russian counterparts via electron-ic exchanges.

The celebration brought twodistinguished speakers whoshared their experiences in theSoviet Union and the impor-tance of communication. The firstspeaker, Jack Foust Matlock, Jr.was a specialist in Soviet affairsduring some of the most tumul-tuous years of the Cold War, andserved as the U.S. Ambassadorto the Soviet Union from 1987to 1991. His 35-year-career en-compassed much of the Cold Warperiod between the Soviet Unionand the United States. His first as-

signment to Moscow was in 1961,and it was from the embassy therethat he experienced the 1962 Cu-ban Missile Crisis, helping totranslate diplomatic messagesbetween the leaders.

Roald Sagdeev spoke nextabout his time as a former direc-tor of the Soviet Space explora-tion program and now a profes-sor of physics at the University ofMaryland. The next crisis couldbe just around the corner, saidRoald Sagdeev.

“It’s very important to makesure we can keep this, especiallyat the time of what’s happening inSyria,” he warned.

World Leader Hotline at Fort DetrickCommemorates 50 Years

Mr. Roald Sagdeev, former director of the Soviet Space exploration program (left) and Mr. Jack Foust Matlock Jr., former U.S. Ambas-sador to the Soviet Union (center) served as guest speakers at the 50th anniversary of the Direct Communications Link celebrationheld at Fort Detrick on Aug. 29. Mr. George Sevich (right), station manager with the 298th Signal Company, 21st Signal Brigade pres-ents Matlock with a token of appreciation for his service to the Nation and his work with the Direct Communications Link.

2 Fort Detrick StandardSeptember 6, 2013 Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

Command StaffMaj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr.

Commanding general, U.S. Army Medical

Research and Materiel Command

and Fort Detrick

Col. Steven P. MiddlecampU.S. Army Garrison commander

Editorial StaffPAO Staff

The STANDARD is an authorized unofficial newspaper,published every two weeks under the provisions of AR360-1 for the military and civilians at Fort Detrick. Circula-tion is 7,000. The STANDARD is a commercial enterprisenewspaper printed by Comprint Military Publications, 9030Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., 20877, a private firm,in no way connected with the United States Government orDepartment of Defense. The contents of the STANDARD donot necessarily reflect the official views or endorsement ofthe U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the U.S.Army. The appearance of advertising in this publication, in-cluding inserts and supplements, do not constitute endorse-

ment of DoD. Everything advertised in this publication shallbe made available for purchase, use or patronage withoutregard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age,marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or anyother nonmerit characteristic of the purchaser, user or patron.Editorial content is prepared and edited by the Fort DetrickPublic Affairs Office, 810 Schreider Street, Fort Detrick, Md.21702-5000. Editorial Offices are in Bldg. 810, Suite 004,telephone 301-619-2018; e-mail: [email protected].

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After Duty NumbersImportant After Duty Hour Numbers

USAG Employee of theQuarter Nominations are nowbeing accepted for July-Sep-tember. Nominations may besubmitted by e-mail, hard copyor fax no later than October 11.

For more information onthe nominating process andinstructions for submissionplease call (301) 619-2857.

USAG Employee of theQuarter Nominations

BY COMMAND SGT. MAJ.RICHARD D. JESSUP

Beginning in October, traffic at the Porter Streetlight and the Old Farm Gate will stop to pay respectto the United States Flag during the afternoon retreat.

Our lives have become so fast paced that we of-ten neglect to take one minute of our day to sit back,breathe, be thankful for what is around us, and paytribute to those before us. This new action will alloweach of us to reflect and pay respect to the great coun-try we call home and say thank you to all that servedand continue to serve.

A lot can happen in over a minute. In 76 secondswe can kiss and hug our family before leaving home.Most of us can reply to an e-mail or text message, oreven show a cashier our military or dependent ID atthe Post Exchange in that time. We should also takethe time to tell a veteran “thank you for your service.”

Every day in less than 76 seconds Reveille andRetreat to honor our American Flag occurs. Once at6 a.m., for 20 seconds, and later, at 4:30 p.m., for 56

seconds. Now you may say to yourself, “wow, only 76seconds to pay tribute to all the sacrifices our servicemembers, veterans, civilians and family membershave made and are continuing to make; what can I doto show my respect and appreciation?”

Well, during Reveille and Retreat bugle calls, civil-ian personnel should stand at attention, face the flagor music, and place their right hand over their hearts.

Vehicular traffic should stop and the driver of thevehicle should exit and stand at attention until theflag is raised or lowered or the music ends. All pas-sengers should turn down radios and remain silent.

If walking, stop and render honors for those 20 or56 seconds.

All military personnel in uniformmust come to at-tention and salute in the direction of the flag until itis raised or lowered or the music ends.

Let’s not continue to shun our duty to join the war-riors who stand so proud to fight for the right for ournation’s flag to wave. I ask you to stand with me andproudly give those 76 seconds to remember all of theAmericans who have given their lives for our nation’sflag. Aren’t they worth 76 seconds?

“What Can You Do in 76 Seconds?”

Command Sgt. Maj. Richard D. Jessup

Commentary:

3Fort Detrick StandardSeptember 6, 2013Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

BY MC4 STRATEGICCOMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

Medical Communications for CombatCasualty Care (MC4), the current Armyelectronic medical record (EMR) system,is in the final stages of preparation for amajor upgrade that will better support allEMR users, Soldiers and veterans whosecare is electronically documented. Testingof the updated MC4 EMR system for field-ing concluded in June. The next iterationof the MC4 software suite, known as EMR2.2.0.0, will also include an operating sys-tem upgrade fromWindows XP to Windows7 and in conjunction with the new EMR, sig-nificant enhancements for medical logistics(MEDLOG). MC4 customers will receive thenew suite during system fielding scheduledfromNovember 2013 through April 2014. Allcustomer support will continue during andbeyond fielding.

MC4 captures health information forSoldiers when they receive care in garrisonand downrange. The system data helps en-sure that Soldiers have a secure, accessibleand lifelong EMR, resulting in easier accessto medical benefits, peace of mind and bet-ter informed health care. MC4 is more thanan EMR system. It offers commanders theability to assess unit readiness with injuryand trauma data and also provides tools forautomating medical logistics.

EMR ImprovementsThe most significant change MC4 cus-

tomers will notice is a new operating sys-

tem with an upgrade from Windows XP toWindows 7, per Army requirements. EMR2.2.0.0 will replace Micromedex, a medicalreference application, with Lexicomp(r).Additionally, a graphical user-interface forthe Theater Medical Information ProgramComposite Health Care System Cache, bet-ter known as TC2, is anticipated in the newrelease. TC2 Provider Order Entry (POE) willnotably improve the medical staff’s experi-ence ordering ancillary services.

Other significant changes involve distri-bution of a new version of the DefenseMed-ical Logistics Standard Support (DMLSS)Customer Assistance Module (DCAM) 1.4.7,which will aid in streamliningmedical logis-tics functions.

In compliance with Department of De-fense requirements, EMR 2.2.0.0 will requirePublic Key Infrastructure - Enterprise (PKI-E) certificates for each MC4 system. Whilethese changes will result in a new businessprocess for deploying units, PKI-E will en-hance security and assure users they arecommunicating with trustworthy systems.

Prior to receiving the MC4 suite upgrade,MC4 users must obtain PKI-E certificates fortheir systemsor theEMRsystemwill notwork.

“It’s imperative that customers are pro-active and begin the process of applyingfor PKI-E certificates as soon as possible,”said MC4 Product Manager LTC Danny J.Morton. “We have limited resources to as-sist units with the upgrade. If they aren’table to secure what they need when wecome to upgrade their systems, we will not

be able to support them until they receivethe certificates.”

The PreparationIn preparation for releasing EMR 2.2.0.0,

MC4 completed a system acceptance test(SAT) and multi-service operational testand evaluation (MOT&E) to evaluate howwell the new suite would function in thefield. Soldiers whose expertise is point-of-injury, medical logistics and inpatient andoutpatient documentation participatedin the tests. User feedback was vital to theEMR update because of the unique perspec-tive and experience they have from usingMC4 or other EMR systems in the past.

“The purpose of all this pre-deploymenttesting is to minimize the impact of any po-tential setbacks Soldiers may experiencewhen they receive the update,” said GailWolcott, MC4’s test director. “Detecting asmany issues as possible during these testevents and correcting them before fieldingthe update is our number one priority.”

Soldiers worked through realistic sce-narios with notional patient information asthey used the MC4 system to document pa-tient care. During the MOT&E, MC4 sharedthis information with the Air Force duringthe Air Force Medical Evaluation SupportActivity’s (AFMESA) EMR evaluation. Thisdata was shared in an effort to make testscenarios as realistic as possible to betterdetect and address system deficiencies.

Soldiers were successful in identifyingareas that needed improvement, includingpatient safety as it relates to allergies and

medication history. MC4 staff coordinatedwith the Deployment & Readiness Systems(D&RS) Program Management Office of theDefense Health Care System (DHCS), for-merly Defense Health Information Manage-ment System (DHIMS), to resolve many ofthe issues that were identified during testing.

MC4 coordinates issue resolution withD&RS, the software developer who designsapplications to capture, manage and sharedata on the battlefield, in garrison and Veter-ans Affairs treatment facilities. TheMC4 EMRsuite is comprised of software from D&RS.

“D&RS has really taken the time,worked really hard and really gone overand above what’s expected of them,” Wol-cott said. “They’ve done a superior jobtransitioning knowledge to us and havereally taken to heart improving user ex-perience on MC4 systems.”

With this iteration of the EMR system,the product manager hopes to draw newusers to MC4, as well as encourage experi-enced users to embrace the changes rollingout this fall.

“I’m very pleased with improvements tothe EMR system that MC4 and D&RS staffhave coordinated on behalf of the Soldier,”said Morton. “These changes demonstratethe program’s focus on advancing tech-nology and will ease a provider’s ability todocument care, enhance continuity of carefor Soldiers from the battlefield back homeand improve security of MC4 systems thatcontain vital medical logistics informationand patient data.”

Army Medical Program Prepares to Upgrade EMR System

BY GEORGE ROPERDIRECTORATE OF PLANS, TRAINING,

MOBILIZATION AND SECURITY

As social networking becomes an integralpart of our everyday lives, there are securityrisks that users should be aware of so theycan take proper precautions. Whether youare using social media for social or businesspurposes, the fundamental idea behind thenetworking is tomeet and connect to peopleyou already know.

Social networking sites rely on connec-tions and communication, and encourage youto provide a certain amount of personal infor-mation. When deciding how much informa-tion to reveal many people may not exercisethe same amount of caution as they wouldwhenmeeting someone in person because:

- the internet provides a senseof anonymity- the lack of physical interaction provides

a false sense of security- they tailor the information for their friends

to read, forgetting that others may see it- they want to offer insights to impress

potential friends or associatesWhile the majority of people using these

sites do not pose a threat, malicious peoplemay be drawn to them because of the acces-sibility and the amount of personal infor-mation that is available. It is important toremember that themore information peoplehave about you, the easier it is for them totake advantage of you. Predators may formrelationships online and then convince un-suspecting individuals to meet them in per-son, leading them into a dangerous situation.

Using information that you provide onsocial media such as your location, hobbies,interests and friends, can allow a person canimpersonate a trusted friend or convinceyou that they have the authority to accessother personal or financial data.

How can you protect yourself?- Limit the amount of personal informa-

tion you post. Do not post any informationthat wouldmake you vulnerable, such as youraddress or information about your scheduleor routine. If your connections post infor-mation about you, make sure the combined

information is not more than you would becomfortable with strangers knowing. Also beconsiderate when posting information, in-cluding photos about your connections.

- Remember that the internet is a pub-lic resource. Only post information you arecomfortable with ANYONE seeing. Once youpost online, you can’t retract it. Even if youremove the information from a site, savedor cached versions may still exist on otherpeople’s machines.

- Be skeptical! Social network sites arefull of useful business information, as wellas substantial amounts of useless informa-tion. People may post false or misleadinginformation about various topics, includingtheir own identities. Treat anything you seeonline (stock tips, advance news, personalgossip, etc.) with a high degree of skepti-cism. Take appropriate precautions and tryto verify the authenticity of any informationbefore taking action.

- Evaluate your settings. Take advan-tage of a site’s privacy settings. The defaultsettings for some sites may allow anyoneto see your profile, but you can customizeyour settings to restrict access to only cer-tain people. Sites may change their optionsperiodically, so review your security andprivacy settings regularly to make sure thatyour choices are still appropriate.

- Use strong passwords. Protect your ac-count with passwords that cannot easily beguessed. If your password is compromised,someone else may be able to access your ac-count and pretend to be you.

- Check privacy policies. Some sites mayshare information such as email addressesor user preferences with other companies.This may lead to an increase in spam. Tryto locate the policy for handling referrals tomake sure that you do not unintentionallysign your friends up for spam.

For more information see SocializingSecurely: Using Social Networking Servicesat http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/safe_social_networking.pdf or contact theFort Detrick/Forest Glen Antiterrorism Of-fice at (301) 619-3446 or 0329.

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USAMMACivilian Earns

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U.S. ArmyMedical Materiel Command’s Force Projection Directorate Deputy Direc-tor Linda S. Foltz earned the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service. USAMMACommander Col. Alex Lopez-Duke presented the award during a ceremony Aug.28. USAMMA is one of 12 subcommands of USAMRMC. USAMMA’s mission is todevelop, acquire, provide, and sustain world class solutions and capabilities toenable medical readiness globally. Photo by Ellen Crown, USAMRMC PAO

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BY STEVEN GALVANUSAISR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

“We’re on the verge of having a newday-to-day world in burn surgery.”

Those were the words used by ex-pert Dr. James H. Holmes IV, Wake For-est University Baptist Medical Center’sBurn Center’s director, at the 2013 Mili-tary Health System Research SymposiumAug. 15 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as hediscussed the state of health care for ourcountry’s burn patients.

Holmes was describing two emergingprocedures -- both related to skin care-- which he believes will revolutionizeburn care.

Holmes shared his thoughts duringa roundtable discussion with medicalexperts from the U.S. Army Medical Re-search and Materiel Command, includingU.S. Army Institute of Surgical ResearchDirector of Research David G. Baer, Ph.D;Director of the Clinical and RehabilitativeMedicine Program Army Col. (Dr.) JohnScherer; and Deputy Director of the Com-bat Casualty Care Research Program AirForce Col. (Dr.) Todd Rasmussen.

Traditional treatment for skin careon burn patients has been to use auto-graphs, which mean taking healthy skinfrom another part of the body to use atthe damaged location. Issues arise whena patient has a large burned area. Also, if

more skin needs to be harvested, the do-nor site must completely heal before it canbe re-harvested. This can leave a patientvulnerable to infection and other compli-cations. Another option is to temporarilyuse grafts from cadavers or artificial skin,which could lead to other complicationssuch as the body rejecting it.

“We’ve invested heavily in ways to en-gineer and grow skin that can be collectedfrom a small patch between the size ofa quarter and a silver dollar, processedand grown in a lab and then returned tothe patient,” explained Baer. “So a verysmall donor site can be used to treat alarge area.”

Baer said they are also exploring “sprayon” skin.

Holmes credits the advancements inburn care and regenerative medicine tothe direct support and collaboration of themilitary and funding by the Department ofDefense.

“We’ve done a lot to improve burn sur-gical care,” said Scherer. “We are in thisbusiness to change the practice of medi-cine and make the lives of not only thosein the military, but those outside the mili-tary better.”

“We could not have gotten this far with-out it,” said Holmes.

Baer agreed, “Collaboration is the se-cret to innovating in this area.”

Collaboration Key to Burn Innovation

Harvested skin requires cell segregation before being suspended in a solutionthat is sprayed on a wound where it multiplies and creates new skin tissue.

U.S. Army photo


BY ELLEN CROWNUSAMRMC DEPUTY PAO

The U.S. Army Medical Materiel Com-mand revealed their new official commandflag Aug. 28.

Leadership organized a traditional flagunfurling to distinguish the event, recog-nized as “historical” because, in its 70-yearexistence, USAMMA has not had its owncommand flag.

“The flag is what has long been used onthe battlefield by soldiers as a way to rec-ognize their units,” said USAMMA Com-mander Col. Alex Lopez-Duke, as he spokeat the ceremony. “Today, as we unfurl ournew flag, we also honor the people of thiscommand, including our active-duty mili-tary, civilians, and contractors. This flag is

the symbol of our command but our team ofincredible people is its lifeblood.”

USAMMA is one of 12 subcommands ofthe U.S. Army Medical Research and Mate-riel Command, the Army’s medical materieldeveloper that focuses on medical research,development and acquisition, and medicallogistics management. USAMMA’s missionis to develop, acquire, provide, and sustainworld class solutions and capabilities to en-able medical readiness globally. According-ly, the USAMMA’s principal skills focus onmateriel and technology lifecycle manage-ment; equipping, sustaining, maintainingand modernizing the medical force (Active,Guard, and Reserve); supporting exercisesand contingency operations; and providingacquisition project management expertise.

USAMMA ‘Unfurls the Flag’ toReveal New Command Colors

Darlene Lindsey, a USAMMA staff member with almost 40 years of service, andSgt. Maj. Leo Anderson unfurl the command’s new flag in a ceremony on Aug. 28.

Photo by Ellen Crown, USAMRMC PAO

BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTESOF HEALTH

A candidate malaria vaccine is safe andprotects against infection in adults, accordingto the results of an early-stage clinical trial.

Malaria is one of the most common in-fectious diseases in the world and an enor-mous public health problem.

It kills hundreds of thousands of peopleeach year, most of them young children inSub-Saharan Africa. Currently, there is noeffective malaria vaccine.

Malaria is caused by the Plasmodiumparasite. Infection occurs when a person isbitten by a mosquito harboring 1 of 4 spe-cies of Plasmodium.

The PfSPZ Vaccine, developed by scien-tists at Sanaria Inc., is composed of a livebut weakened version of Plasmodium fal-ciparum, the most deadly malaria-causingparasite. The parasites are weakened byexposing them to radiation when they’re inthe infective stage of development, calledsporozoites. For many years, it wasn’t pos-sible to purify these sporozoites from themosquito. But scientists recently figured outhow to isolate the weakened sporozoites sothat they can be given in an injected vaccine.

A Phase I trial of the PfSPZ Vaccine tookplace at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethes-da, Maryland. Led by Dr. Robert A. Sederat the Vaccine Research Center of NIH’sNational Institute of Allergy and InfectiousDiseases (NIAID), researchers enrolled 57healthy adults, ages 18-45, with no previousmalaria infection.

Forty participants received the PfSPZVaccine and 17 didn’t. The vaccine recipi-ents were split into different dosage groups.Each group received 2-6 intravenous in-jections of increasing doses given 4 weeksapart. The results appeared online in Sci-ence on August 8, 2013.

After vaccination, participants weremonitored closely for 7 days. No severe sideeffects or malaria infections developed.Those who received a higher total dosageof the vaccine had a greater immune sys-tem response.

To evaluate the protection provided bythe PfSPZ Vaccine, the scientists collabo-rated with the Walter Reed Army Institute of

Research and the Naval Medical ResearchCenter. Participants were exposed to 5 bitesby P. falciparum-infected mosquitoes 3weeks after vaccination. They were thenmonitored for 7 days and tested for infec-tion. Those who were diagnosed with ma-laria were treated with anti-malarial drugsand cured.

The researchers found that only 3 of the15 who received the highest doses of thevaccine became infected from the mosquitobites. Of the 6 participants who received all5 injections using this highest dose, nonewere infected. In contrast, 16 of 17 partici-pants in the lower dosage group and 11 of 12who received no vaccine became infected.

“Scientists and health care providershave made significant gains in characteriz-ing, treating and preventing malaria; how-ever, a vaccine has remained an elusivegoal. We are encouraged by this importantstep forward,” says NIAID Director Dr. An-thony S. Fauci.

Several follow-up studies are nowplanned. They include exploring how longprotection lasts and whether the vaccinecould protect against other strains of P.falciparum. Among the future challengesis that this vaccine must be injected intra-venously-a rare delivery route for vaccines-and stored in liquid nitrogen. This would re-quire new infrastructure, especially in ruraldeveloping regions where the vaccine wouldbe most needed.

Malaria Vaccine FoundSafe and Protective

Anopheles funestus, a malaria-transmit-ting mosquito.

Image by James Gathany, Dr. Frank Collins,University of Notre Dame, courtesy of CDC

BY KELLY L. FORYS-DONAHUEPH.D., PSYCHOLOGIST, U.S. ARMY

PUBLIC HEALTH COMMAND

“What? Are you serious? So-and-so triedto kill himself?”

Unfortunately, at some time in your life,you may have heard these questions spo-ken in your circle of friends. Suicide is real.Most of us know someone whose life hasbeen affected by suicidal behavior (a com-pleted suicide or a suicide attempt), andthe pain and stress of the suicidal behaviorspreads like a ripple to family, battle bud-dies, friends and co-workers. All of thoseindividuals--including you--who could beimpacted by suicidal behavior can help torecognize risk factors and stressors and actto increase the chances of saving a life.

There is not one single factor or set offactors that indicate a person is thinkingabout suicide. Sometimes, we can look back

at an incident of suicidal behavior and say,“Wow, we should’ve seen that coming,” butother times, the behavior seems to happenout-of-the-blue. Noticing the signs and riskfactors of suicidal behavior is not alwayseasy. Risk factors for suicide vary from per-son to person and change over time in thesame person. An individual can have one ormultiple risk factors contributing to a sui-cidal behavior. Some of these risk factorsinclude:

1. Relationship ProblemsIf someone has an argument with his sig-

nificant other, it does not necessarily meanthat he is going to hurt himself. However, re-lationship problems such as the death of aloved one or friend, break-ups and divorcesare very stressful and can be associated withsuicidal behavior.

2. Substance Use and AbuseAlcohol and drugs are often abused in

a misguided attempt to help cope with life

stress. A sudden increase in substance usecan signal a problem. Drug and alcohol usecan increase the likelihood of risky behav-iors, such as being careless or impulsivewith weapons, which are associated withcompleted suicides.

3. Life StressorsGetting in trouble on the job, having ci-

vilian or military legal problems, and deal-

ing with money issues or health problemsare both mentally and physically exhaust-ing. Difficulty sleeping can add to the stress.Life stressors alone or coupled with otherrisk factors can lead to suicidal behaviors.

4. Behavioral Health IssuesStress can lead to behavioral health

problems such as depression, anxiety andadjustment issues. For some individuals, aterrifying event may lead to post-traumaticstress disorder, or PTSD. Individuals whoare feeling depressed or anxious mightwithdraw from social support, making itmore difficult for them to deal with everydaystress. When a person is alone, hemay beginto isolate from people making it more dif-ficult for family, battle buddies, friends andcoworkers to see that he or she is struggling.Without support from people who care, in-dividuals can feel hopeless about the future

Recognize the Signs of Suicide to Save a Life

Courtesy photo

See SUICIDE, continued on page 8


BY CONGRESSIONALLY DI-RECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH

PROGRAMSPUBLIC AFFAIRS

The U.S. Army Medical Re-search and Materiel Command’sCongressionally Directed MedicalResearch Programs (CDMRP), incollaboration with Veteran’s Af-fairs Office of Research and De-velopment, will support two newmulti-institutional consortia fo-cused on translational and clinicalresearch on post-traumatic stressdisorder (PTSD) and chronic ef-fects of mild traumatic brain injury(mTBI).

These collaborative five-yearefforts are the Consortium to Alle-viate PTSD (CAP) and the ChronicEffects of Neurotrauma Consor-tium (CENC). Both consortia arepart of the National Research Ac-tion Plan for Improving Access toMental Health Services for Veter-ans, Service Members, and Fami-lies.

The CAP and CENC will be com-posed of multiple organizations,including academia, Veterans Af-fairs (VA), and military researchand treatment facilities. Efforts

will leverage existing resourcesand knowledge gained throughDoD and VA infrastructure andresearch investments, as well aspublic and private academia andindustry to advance highly trans-lational PTSD and TBI research.

The CDMRP will work collab-oratively with the VA to provideadministrative and technical re-search management with strategicguidance from each consortium’sgovernment steering committee.

“The CDMRP is well positionedto support CAP and CENC, havingassisted with military consortiaresearch in multi-institutional set-tings in psychological health andtraumatic brain injury since 2008,”said Col. Jeff Leggit, director ofCDMRP. “The teams are dedicat-ed to the success of the consortiaresearch projects to bring innova-tive, evidenced-based practice for-ward to improve the care of servicemembers.”

University of Texas Health Sci-ence Center at San Antonio Divi-sion of Behavioral Medicine in theDepartment of Psychiatry ChiefDr. Alan Peterson will serve as theprincipal investigator and directorof the CAP award. The principal VA

collaboration is led by consortiumco-director, Dr. Terence Keane ofthe VA Boston Healthcare System,the National Center for PTSD, andBoston University. Keane will pro-vide VA leadership within the CAPConsortium and help design stud-ies that address the needs of vet-erans. This effort will be focusedon developing the most effectivediagnostic, prognostic, novel treat-ment, and rehabilitative strategiesto treat acute PTSD and preventchronic PTSD. A significant focusof the CAP will be a research effortto identify and confirm clinicallyrelevant biomarkers for PTSD andco-occurring disorders.

Virginia Commonwealth Uni-versity Physical Medicine andRehabilitation Department Chair-man Dr. David Cifu will serve asthe principal investigator anddirector of the CENC award. Cifuis also the National Director forPhysical Medicine and Rehabili-tation for the VA. Consortiumco-investigator Dr. Ramon Diaz-Arrastia of the Uniformed ServicesUniversity of the Health Sciencesand Walter Reed National Mili-tary Medical Center will provideaccess to critical military popula-tions for studies of mTBI and the

many diseases associated withcombat duty. Veterans will berecruited to the studies through anumber of VA medical centers na-tionwide. This collaborative effortfocuses on examining the factorsthat influence the chronic effectsof mTBI and common comorbidi-ties in order to develop improved

diagnostic and treatment options.One area of critical understandingis to establish the relationship be-tween mTBI and neurodegenera-tive disease.

For more information, visithttp://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/nrap_fact_sheet_082013.pdf

Consortia Focuses on PostTraumatic Stress Disorder, Mild TBI

The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command’s Con-gressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP),in collaboration with Veteran’s Affairs Office of Research andDevelopment, will support two newmulti-institutional consortiafocused on translational and clinical research on post-traumaticstress disorder (PTSD) and chronic effects of mild traumaticbrain injury (mTBI). Army image

BY CAREE VANDER LINDENUSAMRIID PAO

Army scientists have success-fully treated the deadly Ebola virusin infected animals following onsetof disease symptoms, according toa report published online Aug. 21in Science Translational Medicine.The results show promise for de-veloping therapies against the vi-rus, which causes hemorrhagic fe-ver with human case fatality ratesas high as 90 percent.

According to first author JamesPettitt of the U.S. Army MedicalResearch Institute of InfectiousDiseases (USAMRIID) at Fort De-trick, Md., the research team pre-viously demonstrated that thetreatment-known as MB-003-pro-tected 100 percent of non-humanprimates when given one hour af-ter Ebola exposure. Two-thirds ofthe animals were protected whentreated 48 hours after exposure.

In the current study, 43 percentof infected non-human primatesrecovered after receiving the treat-ment intravenously 104 to 120hours after infection. The experi-mental design differed significant-ly from the team’s earlier work-thistime, infected animals were nottreated until they developed mea-surable symptoms of disease.

Ebola virus has been responsi-ble for numerous deaths in Africa

over the past several years. In ad-dition to being a global health con-cern, the virus also is considered apotential biological threat agent.

“By requiring both a document-able fever and a positive diagnos-tic assay result for Ebola infectionbefore initiating treatment in theseanimals, we were able to use MB-003 as a true therapeutic coun-termeasure,” said senior authorGene Olinger, Ph.D., of USAMRI-ID. “These initial results push thethreshold of MB-003 from post-exposure prophylaxis to treatingverified illness.”

According to the scientists,Ebola virus replicates quickly tovery high levels, thus overwhelm-ing the host’s ability to fight off theinfection. MB-003 is a “cocktail” ofmonoclonal antibodies that helpbind to and inactivate the virus. Inaddition, said Pettitt, the antibod-ies recognize infected cells andtrigger the immune system to killthem off. No side effects of the an-tibodies were observed in the sur-viving animals.

MB-003 was developed througha decade-long collaborative effortbetween private industry and theU.S. government, with fundingfrom the Defense Advanced Re-search Projects Agency (DARPA),the National Institutes of Health(NIH), and the Defense Threat Re-duction Agency (DTRA).

“With no vaccines or therapeu-tics currently licensed to treat orprevent Ebola virus, MB-003 is apromising candidate for continueddevelopment,” said collaboratorLarry Zeitlin, Ph.D., president ofMapp Biopharmaceutical in SanDiego, Calif.

MB-003 is manufactured in aplant-based system by KentuckyBioProcessing in Owensboro, Ky.According to Barry Bratcher, thecompany’s chief operating officer,the plant-based system allows forconsiderable efficacy while KBP’sautomated facility keeps MB-003cost-effective and cuts down onthe production time required.

“Our facility can produce theseproteins in two weeks at a substan-tial reduction in cost to other pro-duction methods,” said Bratcher.“This advanced method of manu-facturing allows us to addressneeds quickly and inexpensively.”

Zeitlin said Mapp recently an-nounced formation of a joint ven-ture between LeafBio (Mapp’s com-mercialization arm) and Defyrus ofToronto, Canada, to consolidatetheir antibody programs. He saidthe relationship will streamline de-velopment of the most potent anti-filovirus products.

According to Zeitlin, the nextstep in the drug development pro-cess would be to more extensivelytest the safety of the antibodies in

animals. Once that is established,the safety of the antibodies wouldneed to be assessed in humanvolunteers. Ultimately, a large ef-ficacy study in non-human pri-mates and a larger safety study inhumans would be required for U.S.Food and Drug Administration(FDA) licensure of the product.

USAMRIID’s mission is to pro-tect the warfighter from biologi-cal threats and to be prepared toinvestigate disease outbreaks orthreats to public health. Research

conducted at USAMRIID leads tomedical solutions-vaccines, drugs,diagnostics, and information-thatbenefit both military personnel andcivilians. The Institute plays a keyrole as the lead military medicalresearch laboratory for the DefenseThreat Reduction Agency’s JointScience and Technology Office forChemical and Biological Defense.USAMRIID is a subordinate labora-tory of the U.S. Army Medical Re-search and Materiel Command.

Experimental Ebola Treatment Protects SomePrimates Even After Disease Symptoms Appear

Ebola virus research is conducted in maximum containmentBiosafety Level 4, or BSL-4, laboratories, where investigatorswear positive-pressure suits and breathe filtered air as they work.Here, scientists Gene Olinger (L) and James Pettit demonstrateBSL-4 laboratory procedures in BSL-4 training laboratory at USArmy Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAM-RIID), Fort Detrick, MD. Sgt. Dereck Abbey, USAMRIID VIO

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John Ramiccio, right, chief, Flight Systems Branch,U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, briefsBrig. Gen. Timothy J. Edens, director of Army Safetyand commanding general, U.S. Army Combat Readi-ness/Safety Center during a demonstration of the Tac-tile Situation Awareness System.

During his visit to USAARL, Edens flew in a NUH-60FS simulator and experienced first-hand the capabil-ities of the TSAS, a one-of-a-kind system developed toenhance a pilot’s situational awareness and to prevent

spatial disorientation while flying. Individuals whofly with the TSAS are outfitted with vests that containtactile simulators or tractors that help maintain pilotawareness of drift and altitude through non-visualmeans. Edens was also briefed on the laboratory’s sen-sory and injury prevention research.

USAARL’s research, development, tests and evalu-ations aims to protect and sustain the performance ofaviators and Soldiers in the operational environment.

Director of ArmySafety visits USAARL

U.S. Army photo by Lori Yerdon

The next local Officer Candidate School board will con-vene at 8:30 a.m., Oct. 18 in Bldg 1520 Freedman Drive in theMedal Of Honor Conference Room #208E.

Completed applications must be received at the MilitaryPersonnel Division by close of business Oct. 1. It is recom-mended that all applicants review MILPER MESSAGES #13-180, #13-188 and AR 350-51. All packets must be processedthrough their S1 office first for review. The Military Person-nel Division will not accept any packets directly from indi-vidual Soldiers, only through the S1’s.

Points of contact for all packet submissions and questions:Mrs. Thomas at (301)619-3448/7311. michele.y.thomas@

us.army.mil

Officer CandidateSchool Board

and may not ask for help.Having one or more risk factors does not necessarily

mean that a person is going to hurt himself. However, therisk factors described above have been shown to be associ-ated with suicidal behavior. If we can all look for those fac-tors and talk to the individual experiencing those stressorsabout how he is doing, together we can make a differenceand improve the health and well-being of our family mem-bers, battle buddies, friends and co-workers.

Counselors treat thousands of people for relationshipproblems, substance abuse, depression, PTSD and stresseach year. Trained therapists are available at behavioralhealth clinics on post, in the civilian community and in Vet-erans Administration clinics.

The best way to help prevent suicidal behavior is to payattention to your loved ones, battle buddies, friends andcoworkers and watch for changes in their behavior. Reachout to someone you trust in your organization or in yourpersonal life. Remember ACE: Ask, Care, Escort. If you seechanges, or if something just seems “off,” say something,ask him if he is thinking about hurting himself. Show himthat you care. Take him to get help. Call 1-800-273-TALK(8255) for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Your ac-tions could save a life.

ACE Civilian Suicide Prevention Training DatesFort DetrickAll are held in building 1520.Sept. 10 2013, 9:00 10:30 a.m. Classroom 5Sept. 16 2013, 1:30 2:30 p.m. Classroom 5Sept. 25 2013, 2:00 3:30 p.m. Classroom 5Sept. 30 2013, 2:00 3:30 p.m. Classroom 5Forest GlenSept. 4 please call number below for more informationMilitary train the trainerSept. 18, from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. At the Fort Detrick Chapel.Reservations are required.Classroom seating is limited for all classes to a first come

first serve basis.POC (301) 619-9703

SUICIDE, continued from page 6

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BY SHANNON BISHOPUSAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Fort Detrick leadership hosted a ribboncutting ceremony Aug. 28 for the post’s newEmergency Services Center.

The 42,000-square-foot energy-efficientbuilding is located centrally on post to al-low first responders the ability to respondquickly to calls.

Maryland Congressman John Delaneyattended the opening ceremony and said,“This facility stands for the investment wewould all like to see in Fort Detrick and whatit offers to our nation.”

The new center is Leadership in Energyand Environmental Design Certified Silver.LEED certification was developed by theU.S. Green Building Council and is recog-

nized across the globe as the premier markof achievement in green building. The cer-tification is obtained through sustainablebuilding materials, water efficiency, pro-moting indoor air quality, and energy effi-ciency, among other required prerequisites.

The new center will be a joint workplacefor about 35 police officers and 33 firefighters.

“These are the men and women that pro-tect Fort Detrick,” said Director of EmergencyServices Ray Wharton during the ceremonyheld in the fire truck bays of the new building.

As part of the ceremony, the directorateincluded the promotions of Fire Chief BrianWheeler and Police Chief Stephen Brooks.Having enjoyed impressive careers, both offi-cers said they were grateful and proud to havetheir families be a part of their promotions.

Fort Detrick Opens New ‘Green’Emergency Services Center

Fort Detrick and USAG leadership joined by Maryland Congressman John Del-aney cut a ribbon to signal the opening of the post’s new Emergency ServicesCenter Aug. 28. Photo by Ellen Crown, USAMRMC PAO

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FISHER HOUSE - ANDREWS AFBGOLF TOURNAMENTSEPTEMBER 20, 2013

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT DUE BY SEPTEMBER 6

ENTRY FORMANDREWS AFB FISHER HOUSE

“CAPTAIN’S CHOICE” GOLF TOURNAMENTThe Courses at Andrews AFB www.aafbgc.com

SEP 20, 2013 – 1:00 REGISTRATION - 2:00 SHOTGUN START

Member Entry Fee – $75.00, Authorized User Entry Fee – $85.00,Civilian Guest Entry Fee – $95.00 per person

RANK/NAME PHONEAMOUNT PD MEMBER #*E-MAIL



RANK/NAME PHONEAMOUNT PD MEMBER #*E-MAILPLEASE RETURN THIS FORM AND PAYMENT TO THE ANDREWS AFB FISHERHOUSE BY SEPt 6 TO AVOID MISSING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATEMake checks payable to Andrews AFB Fisher House, Inc. and mail them to:Andrews AFB Fisher House 1076 W. Perimeter Rd, Andrews AFB, MD 20762Team Members: Please list all names if you have a pre-selected foursome. If not, we will behappy to pair you up with a great team.*e-mail used to send confirmation and directions only, not solicitation.

PLAYERCONTRIBUTION

COVERS• GREEN FEES

• CART• RANGE BALLS

•DINNER• BEVERAGES• PRIZES• FUN

Hole-In-One Tournaments sponsored byHarley Davidson of Washington DC

on the East Courseand by Toyota of Waldorfon the South Course

“Dedicated to our greatestnational treasure – ourmilitary service men andwomen and their lovedones.”

Zachary Fisher

T6614090

Rockville


BY 6TH MEDICAL LOGISTICSMANAGEMENT CENTER

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

On Aug. 20, the 6th Medical LogisticsManagement Center hosted its initial Fam-ily Readiness Group Town Hall Meetingunder the new commander, Col. AnthonyR. Nesbitt. During the meeting, Nesbittbriefed the family members, spouses, andSoldiers on the new organizational struc-ture, mission and vision statements, and keyfuture events in order to inform and enforceopen communication between the familiesand the unit.

Incorporating FRG initiatives into theunit’s planning process provides Soldiersand their families with a better quality oflife and increased readiness. Nesbitt em-phasized the importance of family supportto Soldiers by reiterating the Army Chief ofStaff, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno’s quote,“The strength of our nation is our Army;the strength of our Army is our Soldiers; thestrength of our Soldiers is our families; andthis is what makes us Army Strong.” He alsostated that the FRG will play a critical rolein setting strong social and environmentalconditions, allowing the unit to build team-work, cohesion, and to ultimately achieve ahighly competent organization.

During Fiscal Year 2014, the FRG hasplanned many activities and initiatives toinclude quarterly birthday celebrations,

the Annual White House Family Tour dur-ing the holidays, the Loch Raven Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs Community Liv-ing Center visit in Baltimore, Family SportsDay at Frederick Keys baseball games,family events for deploying and redeploy-ing Soldiers, and other volunteer eventswithin the local community and schools.These activities promote unit cohesion,enforce family dynamics, build teams, andstrengthen community relations, which isin keeping with the vision of the 6th MLMCand its Soldiers.

Nesbitt stated at the end of the meeting,“We will continue to provide Soldiers, fam-ily members, and spouses with opportuni-ties to enjoy and learn together, and keep itsimple, interesting, and beneficial.”

6MLMC Hosts Family ReadinessGroup Town Hall Meeting

Spouses of new Soldiers were intro-duced during the 6th MLMC FamilyReadiness Group meeting.

Photo by 6MLMC public affairs

Women’s HistoryMonth Observance

Members of the 21st Signal Brigade and the Fort Detrick Equal OpportunityOffice hosted a memorable Women’s History Month Observance event onAug. 29 at the Fort Detrick Community Activities Center. Lt. Gen. Susan S.Lawrence (center) was the keynote speaker. As the G-6, Lawrence supportsthe Chief of Staff of the Army and Army Staff in performing information man-agement, network operations (including computer network defense), forcestructure, and the equipping and employment of signal forces. Lawrence isa wonderful example and model of the importance of how history has pavedthe way for woman to serve at every level.

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