As we look ahead to Research Day 2026 on Tuesday, April 21st, we are excited to continue building momentum for this signature event.

We are pleased to share that this year’s keynote speaker has been confirmed as, Gary M. Vilke, MD, FACEP, FAAEM and the topic of the keynote address will be announced in the coming weeks. We look forward to sharing more details soon about what promises to be an engaging and inspiring presentation.

In the meantime, information regarding the Dr. Vilke’s bio, the full agenda for the event, call for abstracts, and important deadlines can be found in the articles below.

Thank you for your continued commitment to advancing research and discovery across our institution. We hope you will join us for this special day of learning and collaboration.

Warm regards,

Michael Wilson, MD, PhD

Health Systems Science Research Interest Group
 

The Health Systems Science Research Interest Group meets bimonthly to discuss the scholarship of quality improvement and implementation science with the goal of creating a learning health system at Carilion Clinic.

If you’re interested in joining the email list for this group (our meeting times vary), email Dawn Smith (dvsmith@carilionclinic.org). For question about the group - email John Epling (jwepling@carilionclinic.org).

Satellite Sites for Clinical Research

Expanding clinical trial activities beyond Roanoke is a key initiative of the Department of Medicine Clinical Research Unit (DoM CRU). In addition to 40+ trials at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Carilion’s main site for clinical research, DoM CRU now supports study activities at four satellite locations: Roanoke Community Hospital (CRCH), New River Valley Medical Center (CNRV), Rockbridge Community Hospital (CRBH), and Franklin Memorial Hospital (CFMH).

Like research itself, expansion to satellite study sites involves thoughtful questions, comprehensive answers, and creative solutions.

Questions like: Where will participants park? Who is the sample courier? Is there desk space for research team members? What measures keep PHI secure? Can samples be processed onsite? How much temperature-monitored storage is available? When is dry ice delivered—or does someone have to buy it locally?

Many of these issues may seem trivial, but if unresolved, they can become roadblocks to completing trial activities. However, site-specific workflows, work arounds, and procedural dry runs have succeeded in increasing Carilion’s clinical trials presence throughout its network.

Although the sites vary in size, setting, and resources, they all accomplish high-quality, participant-focused research, without excessive use of dedicated space or equipment. Study-specific principal investigators are onsite at all locations. Designated research staff serve each location but are full- or part-time, depending on need. For example, at CRBH, full-time coverage is achieved through 2 part-time employees. Some sites offer dedicated research facilities; at others, space for study activities is reserved by appointment. Three of the current satellite sites focus on inpatient trials, and two accommodate studies with outpatient activities (Table 1).

Enlarging our research capacity is a good thing on many fronts. “Broadening clinical trial activity beyond Roanoke strengthens both our health system and our science,” says Dr Lana Wahid, Vice Chair of Research. “By integrating research into our community hospitals, we expand rural participants’ access to innovative therapies. This also enhances the diversity of our research populations and the real-world applicability of our findings. This model ensures that the benefits of clinical research extend across our entire region—not just at a single flagship site.”

Dr Wahid and Julie Eckstrand, Senior Director of Research, spearhead the research expansion initiative. In addition, our Clinical Research Unit staff have been—and continue to be—integral to this effort. They solve onsite logistics dilemmas, are willing and flexible (even on weekends) to do numerous set-up tasks, and show poised resilience during study startup.

As resources, needs, and interest grow, so will the clinical trials supported at Carilion’s Roanoke and satellite research sites. Increasing our clinical research reach brings new treatments closer to the communities we serve.

It is our honor to announce that Gary M. Vilke, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Emergency Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. Dr. Vilke is a nationally recognized leader in emergency medical services and risk management, with a distinguished record of scholarship and innovation.

Dr. Vilke’s work has had a significant impact on the research community. He has authored two textbooks, coauthored more than 70 book chapters, and published over 270 peer-reviewed articles. His research has appeared in leading journals including Resuscitation, The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and Annals of Emergency Medicine, among others. He also serves on the editorial boards of four major medical journals. We look forward to the insights he will share with our research community. You can read his full bio here.

Additional details, regarding the topic of Dr. Vilke's keynote will be announced in the coming weeks. We hope to see you at Research Day 2026!

Sent on behalf of The Whole Health Consortium Leadership Team at Virginia Tech

Registration Now Open: 2026 Whole Health Consortium Annual Meeting

Theme: Whole Health, Whole Communities: From Dialogue to Coordinated Action

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Location: Virginia Tech Inn and Skelton Conference Center, Blacksburg, VA

Registration Link: Register Here

This year’s gathering is designed to help our cross-sector community shift from conversation to coordinated research collaboration that leads to meaningful, measurable impact.

Keynote Speaker: Meagan Grega, MD

We are honored to welcome Meagan Grega, physician leader and founder of the Kellyn Foundation, to deliver the keynote:

“From Silos to Synergy: Integrating Academic, Clinical, and Community Partnerships to Improve Health Outcomes Via the Healthy Neighborhood Immersion Strategy”

Program Highlights

• Gain Insights from the Field: Learn from Dr. Grega’s experience and a "lightning exchange" of active projects from our members.
• Connect & Collaborate: Build partnerships over a networking lunch (included with registration).
• Engage in Strategy: Participate in facilitated breakout sessions designed to move ideas into concrete research aims and collaborative teams.
• Launch New Ideas (Flash Funding): We are excited to announce that a select number of proposals presented during the meeting will be selected to receive $1,000 Flash Funding awards to jumpstart early-stage idea development and pilot collaborations.

View Full Program & Theme Information

Detailed event information can be found here:

👉 Event Website

Space is limited, and we anticipate strong interest. We encourage you to register soon and come ready to share the challenges and opportunities you’re exploring within a Whole Health framework.

The Department of Emergency Medicine is thrilled to share that one of its junior faculty members, Dr. Katie Mayes, received notice that her application for a federal K award was selected for funding. An NIH career development award, or K series award, is a funding mechanism designed for early-career investigators to strengthen their skills, provide protected time for research and training in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences.  

Dr. Mayes submitted her proposal through the NeuroEM Scholars K12 Program at the University of Michigan, which is a career development pathway for EM physicians whose research falls within the missions of NINDS, NIDA, or NIA. She is one of only four scholars selected for this year’s cohort, and her work will be funded for three years.  

The research activities proposed by Dr. Mayes will focus on determining the feasibility of linking quantified fall dynamics with serum biomarker expression in older adults residing in a long-term care facility. She will be conducting her research and developing in her career with the help of a mentoring team that includes Dr. Damon Kuehl (CC/VTCSOM EM) and Steve Rowson (VT Bioengineering). An expectation of Dr. Mayes’s award is that she will develop and submit an individual NIH K application (e.g., K23) or an R01 equivalent application during her third year of funding.

Dr. Mayes would like to thank her colleagues, the Carilion and EM leadership teams, and the staff in the Carilion and VT Research Offices for their continuing support.

R&D serves as the central hub for all externally sponsored research proposals at Carilion. Whether Carilion is submitting a proposal directly to a sponsor or participating as a collaborator or subrecipient, all proposals are routed through R&D to ensure compliance with federal regulations, sponsor guidelines, and internal policies.

To help investigators understand these expectations, two reference documents accompany this article: the Proposal Submission SOP and the Pre‑Award Responsibilities overview. Together, these documents outline who is responsible for each part of the proposal process, required timelines, and how proposals are reviewed and submitted on behalf of the institution.

Early engagement with R&D is strongly encouraged. Sponsor requirements have become increasingly complex, and advance planning allows sufficient time for budget development, compliance review, institutional approvals, and final submission. Investigators are asked to notify R&D as soon as a decision is made to pursue external funding.

Proposal development is a shared responsibility. Principal Investigators lead the scientific and technical components of the proposal, while department leadership provides awareness and approval of effort, resources, and project implications. R&D supports the process by reviewing budgets, confirming required documentation, securing institutional approvals, and managing submission through sponsor systems.

Internal timelines are in place to support high‑quality, compliant submissions (see Grant Submission Timelines below/linked here). Proposals that arrive late are considered at risk, as limited review time can restrict R&D’s ability to conduct a full quality and compliance check. Submissions made without R&D authorization are not permitted and may jeopardize award acceptance.

Investigators and departmental staff are encouraged to review the attached Proposal Submission SOP and Pre‑Award Responsibilities documents for a complete understanding of expectations, timelines, and roles. Familiarity with these materials helps protect investigators, strengthen proposal quality, and enhance Carilion’s competitiveness for external research funding.

Research & Development proudly congratulates Cameron on earning the Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) certification through the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA).

The CCRP credential is a nationally recognized certification that reflects a high level of knowledge, experience, and commitment to excellence in clinical research. Cameron’s achievement highlights her dedication, hard work, and continued pursuit of professional growth.

Please join us in celebrating this outstanding accomplishment and in thanking Cameron for her commitment to advancing quality and integrity in clinical research. Congratulations, Cameron!

You're Invited to Research Day 2026

Date: Tuesday, April 21st, 2026

Registration for the 2026 Carilion Clinic Research Day on Tuesday, April 21 is now open. Research Day is a forum for our researchers and their collaborators to highlight the work conducted in our hospitals, clinics, basic science laboratories and in the community. Researchers will have the choice to present their work as a poster or via oral presentation via Teams. In the past, over 100 abstracts comprised of research, case studies, and quality projects were submitted. Please register by Friday, April 17.

Residents, fellows, faculty, staff, and medical students will share insights about how the projects were developed.

The event is a collaboration between:

• Carilion Clinic Research and Development
• Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
• Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
• Radford University Carilion

Agenda 

• 7:00–10:00 AM — Oral Presentations (Virtual via Microsoft Teams)
• 10:00 AM–12:00 PM — Residents/Fellows Poster Session (CRMH 6th Floor Auditorium)
• 12:30–1:30 PM — Keynote Speaker: Gary M. Vilke, MD, FACEP, FAAEM (CRMH 6th Floor Auditorium)
• 2:00–5:00 PM — Faculty, Staff, and Student Poster Session (CRMH 6th Floor Auditorium)

Abstracts are due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. We will let you know by Thursday, April 9 if your poster and/or oral presentation is accepted. 

The poster session will be held at CRMH 6th Floor Auditorium. If you have questions, contact Research@carilionclinic.org. 

Carilion offers instructor-led, focused training for an in-depth, step-by-step learning experience building patient cohorts and delving into Analytics. The facilitator will be Dee Myers. Please get in touch with HART@carilionclinic.org with the subject of 'TriNetX Training' for training outside of the scheduled sessions. If you haven’t taken a class or need a refresher, this is your opportunity to do so!  Let Dee Myers know which date you prefer and she will send a meeting invitation.

• Mar 4, 10:30am – noon
• Mar 26, 1:30 – 3pm
• Apr 9, 10:30am – noon
• Apr 22, 1:30 – 3pm
• May 6, 10:30am – noon
• May 21, 1:30 – 3pm

https://redcap.link/v5pw9j7j to sign up for TriNetX digitally.

For more information visit:https://redcapweb.carilionclinic.org/redcap/surveys/?s=dcUCIpMAzk8BqKH2

Carilion Clinic has enrolled its first four participants in a new usability study in collaboration with the Carilion Innovation Group, marking an important milestone in advancing patient-centered innovation.

Led on-site by Lead Clinical Research Coordinator Darren Hackley, the study team worked closely with internal partners and the device installation team to ensure a smooth launch. All four device installations have been successfully completed.

The installation team reported that participants were enthusiastic, engaged, and excited to get started—an encouraging sign for the study’s continued progress.

The usability study will evaluate patient interaction and experience with the device in a real-world care setting, helping inform future improvements and support innovation at Carilion Clinic.

With enrollment underway, the team looks forward to building momentum and expanding participation in the months ahead.

Despite the well-known adverse effects of hypertriglyceridemia, currently there are no approved treatments for specifically lowering levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], a key cholesterol transport protein.

Carilion is one of more than 700 sites worldwide that are participating in MOVE-Lp(a). This cardiometabolic clinical trial asks whether the study drug, muvalaplin, reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in participants with high Lp(a) levels. Mulvalaplin interferes with Lp(a), making it unable to bind cholesterol, thus decreasing blood cholesterol. Lowering cholesterol levels is the first step in decreasing several cardiovascular risks, including atherosclerosis, carotid stenosis, heart attack, and stroke.

To be included in MOVE-Lp(a), participants must

• Be 18 years or older
• Have an Lp(a) laboratory value of 175 nmol/L or higher
• Have had a major cardiovascular event or surgery (such as heart attack, stroke, or cardiac catheterization) within the last 10 years or be at risk for one

For more information on MOVE-Lp(a), visit ClinicalTrials.gov or MOVE-Lp(a) | Carilion Clinic