At this time when we express appreciation for the patients who entrust us with caring for them, it is extremely important that we pay special tribute to those patients who assist us in our research mission by their participation in clinical research studies.

It is important to emphasize that a particular patient with a specific medical condition, cancer or traumatic brain injury as just a couple of examples, may or may not personally benefit from participation in a protocol or study. However, all patients with cancer or traumatic brain injury will benefit from the results of the clinical trials. Study participation is often motivated by altruism and not personal gain.

There is a great responsibility for those of us in the research community to maximize the return on investment in the clinical trials while keeping to an absolute minimum the risk to patients by their participation in research studies.

During Patient Awareness Month, the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command extends special appreciation to our clinical research study participants.

Have you ever been a patient at a clinic or hospital or sick bay?

How did you feel? How did the medical Provider and personnel treat you?

What did you think the medical staff were thinking about as they were preparing to see you?

These may be some of the questions that go through the minds of people who see medical providers every day?

Do they feel appreciated by the medical staff arrival at the medical facility?

What are some ways a patient can be shown appreciation by the medical staff?

Why is it even important for the patient to be appreciated by the medical staff, family, friends, colleagues and neighbors?

Why...because the Patient is always the center-piece of care; and should receive the appropriate attention from the medical receptionist to the Nursing Assistant to the Staff Nurse to the Medical Doctor and all other medical personnel who come in contact with the patient.

One of the main reasons why the medical facility and medical field exist is because of the Patient. I feel it is crucially important the Patient is shown appreciation in every possible facet of medical care and/or treatment. The Patient should also be appreciated through medical research.

Remember the crux of medical research evolves with the Patient in mind.

Author: Robert Read PM for Vision, Diabetes and Pain Research TATRC

February is Low Vision Awareness Month, a campaign that was started to raise awareness for macular degeneration and other vision problems.

Under the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center's vision portfolio, we address low vision to aide Soldiers in seeing again.

One of the latest advancements in low vision projects, "Vision Substitution/Augmentation" with Anil Raj, MD as the project investigator, has been highlighted in several publications and can be found as a press release on the MRMC website.

As you know, MRMC is known for collaborations. We are currently working with James Weiland, PhD, from the University of Southern California. His team is developing a wearable low vision aid for patients with impaired visual function after traumatic brain injury and/or eye injury. Under user control, the system will analyze the visual environment of the user and will communicate orienting cues, indicating potential nearby objects of interest or obstacles.

We are also working with Darlene Dartt, PhD and Eli Peli, OD at the Schepens Eye Research Institute. They are researching methods to prevent low vision that can occur in military environments by optimizing visual displays for complex equipment as well as preventing the retinal damage that can occur with the misuse of lasers in ranges, finders, missile guidance, and weapons.

Even though February is Low Vision Awareness Month, here at TATRC we focus on vision all year long so that Soldiers are able to see clearly again.