JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) for the Advancement of Military Medicine has partnered with the Air Force’s 59th Medical Wing Office of the Chief Scientist, Science & Technology (59MDW/ST) and the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) Department of Clinical Investigation (DCI) to provide gifted funding for the Clinician Scientist Investigator Opportunity Network (CSION) seedling proposal program. This collaboration provides gifted funding to execute Defense Health Agency (DHA) gaps-driven proposals developed by the CSION fellows.
This collaboration is further strengthened by a direct leadership partnership between the BAMC Department of Clinical Investigation (DCI) and the 59th Medical Wing Science & Technology (ST) office. Specifically, Col Maddry, USAF, MC, Chief, BAMC Department of Clinical Investigation (DCI) serves as the Director of CSION, bridging the two organizations to streamline the seedling proposal program.
This joint initiative prepares active-duty clinicians for careers as clinician-scientists, focusing on projects with immediate, real-world clinical applications. By providing critical funding, resources, and mentorship, the partnership assists awardees in developing robust research portfolios, ultimately preparing them to lead future military medical research initiatives.
For 2026, HJF has funded two CSION proposals targeting critical advancements in battlefield transfusion training and airway injury care:
Defining Procedural Readiness for Battlefield Transfusions
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The Impact: Fresh whole blood transfusions save lives on the battlefield, yet medics rarely perform this complex procedure outside of active combat. LtCol Ely’s research measures physical skill retention at set intervals following initial training. By tracking these performance metrics, the project establishes evidence-based retraining schedules. This data-driven approach replaces arbitrary training cycles, prevents skill decay, and ensures military first responders maintain constant operational readiness.
Preventing Long-Term Airway Damage
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The Impact: This study investigates how acute laryngeal injury (ALgI) transitions into laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS), a severe narrowing of the airway. Maj Malka examines three specific causes of airway trauma: post-intubation damage, inhalation burns, and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS/TEN). By analyzing gene expression and bacterial colonization in tissue samples, the research team aims to identify biological targets for therapy. This study will deliver clear, immediate triage guidelines for field clinicians to identify high-risk patients early and improve recovery outcomes.
How the CSION Program Works
The CSION program operates without incurring additional service obligations or corps restrictions, serving all military branches and DHA civilians with a sole focus on advancing clinical research rather than granting degrees.
Because it carries no additional service obligation, the program offers a powerful non-financial incentive that helps retain research-focused medical academics within the military. The career pipeline is tailored specifically to the needs of the military mission.
To ensure the success of these clinician-scientists, a robust network of mentors is provided by 59MDW/ST, the BAMC DCI, and key partners across the San Antonio military medical landscape, including:
In addition to leadership provided by CSION deputies, Dr AJ Burdette and Dr Madeline Paredes, the 59 MDW/ST Office provides extended scientific, technical and programmatic assistance and support to CSION fellows to guide successful execution of their studies. Through these dedicated mentorships, CSION fellows receive hands-on guidance to align their work with Defense Health Program Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DHP RDT&E) priorities, safeguarding the health of servicemembers on and off the battlefield.