CSRD Research Career Scientist Award Application

Chao博士的研究主要集中在对海湾战争病（GWI）的理解和改善

Dr. Linda Chao’s research has largely focused understanding Gulf War Illness (GWI) and improving health outcomes in Gulf War (GW) Veterans. Her current research activities include investigating the long- term consequences of GWI in the context of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Epidemiological research has linked environmental exposures, particularly pesticide exposure, to Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, there has been no systematic research on incidence or prevalence of PD among GW veterans. Dr. Chao’s current VA Merit grant (2I01CX000798-05) investigates the prevalence of PD and prodromal PD in GW Veterans. Dr. Chao also has a newly funded Department of Defense (DOD)/Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) grant (W81XWH-21-0656) that investigates the prevalence and etiology of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in GW Veterans. MCI is a condition where cognitive decline is greater than expected for one’s age but is not yet severe enough to meet the criteria for dementia. Because MCI has been linked to increased risk for dementia, this research will have a significant impact on VA Healthcare because the precocious diagnosis of MCI, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and PD in GW Veterans could facilitate the targeted delivery of neuroprotective therapies when they become available. Furthermore, at- risk Veterans may be counseled to adopt lifestyle changes that may lower their risk for these neurodegenerative diseases. Three decades after the end of the Gulf War, effective treatments for Gulf War Illness (GWI), the multisymptomatic disorder estimated to affect 250,000 GW Veterans, remain elusive. Dr. Chao’s research has investigated evidence-based treatments for GWI. Her recently completed VA Merit grant (I21CX001428) showed that treating insomnia in GW Veterans non-pharmacologically with a behavioral intervention improved both sleep and non-sleep symptoms of GWI. Because sleep apnea is commonly comorbid with insomnia, and because many GW Veterans have untreated sleep apnea, Dr. Chao is expanding this research by investigating the efficacy of an intervention that combines sleep apnea and insomnia treatment in her newly funded DOD/CDMRP grant (W81XWH-21-1-0758). Another major focus of Dr. Chao’s research is evaluating the neural mechanisms of non-pharmacological interventions to delay onset or slow progression of cognitive impairment and dementia (recently completed DOD/CDMRP grant W81XWH-17-1-0490; newly funded DOD/CDMRP grant W81XWH-21-1-0147). Dementia prevalence is expected to triple worldwide over the next 40 years at tremendous monetary and emotional cost. Considering that over 70% of Veterans are 50 years and older, and that Veterans 65 and older are the fastest growing age group, this aspect of Dr. Chao’s research program will also have significant impact and relevance on VA healthcare.