RR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application

Twamley博士通过发展补偿认知将神经心理学和康复研究联系起来 培训(CCT/CogSMART)干预并进行随机对照试验，以测试其在 改善认知、日常功能和生活质量。这些结果对退伍军人很重要，他们的 亲人、临床医生、VHA和社会，因为认知和功能能力与残疾直接相关 和社区融合。事实上，认知健康被认为是健康的第三支柱，与身体健康并驾齐驱。 健康和心理健康，并被认为是退伍军人管理局的整体健康医疗方法中至关重要的。Dr。 Twamley目前资助的研究都集中在患有认知障碍的退伍军人(例如，由于 创伤性脑损伤、轻度认知障碍、帕金森氏症、囤积症或其他精神疾病 健康状况)。她目前是由VA RRD，VA CSRD，Department资助的研究的PI或共同PI 国防和国家科学基金会，并担任退伍军人事务部资助的研究的联合调查员 RRD、VA CSRD和DOD。她的研究使用了她和她的同事开发的干预手册 前瞻记忆、注意力、学习和记忆以及执行功能方面的靶向障碍，这 在多个神经精神科人群的认知和功能的多个领域显示出有效性。 所教授的许多补偿策略都是许多成功人士使用的简单习惯(例如，使用 所有日程安排和定期检查的日历系统；使用有组织的方法学习和 记住；通过列出目标步骤并指定截止日期来计划实现目标和最后期限)。她 目前的RRD功勋奖侧重于为有精神健康状况的无家可归退伍军人提供CCT 住院精神健康康复和治疗；她目前的CSRD功勋奖试验正在审查 为患有轻度认知障碍的老年退伍军人提供激励增强的CCT，并结合补偿性 认知策略和生活方式策略(例如，身体活动、营养和与睡眠相关的行为 降低痴呆症风险)。她的新工作试图找到实施认知康复的新方法 干预措施(例如，与针对脑炎症的药物相结合；与其他 心理社会康复干预；补偿性认知训练与计算机化相结合 认知培训；通过移动应用程序或远程医疗提供；更简短、更个性化的干预；通过 认知辅助机器人)。其他研究兴趣包括无家可归者的认知障碍和残疾 退伍军人，支持就业，帮助认知障碍者重返工作岗位，认知 创伤后应激障碍，以及使用技术来改善认知和心理健康。特瓦姆利医生有一种 丰富的本地、国内和国际合作者网络，她与研究人员和 世界各地的临床医生开发、调整、翻译和传播认知健康干预措施。另外， 她为指导下一代退伍军人临床康复投入了大量的时间和精力 科学家致力于改善退伍军人的认知健康。她的服务活动包括科学同行 为退伍军人管理局和其他机构进行审查，为多个专业组织和当地机构提供行政服务 在退伍军人事务部研究和发展委员会任职。特瓦姆利博士结合了广泛的研究 经验和高水平的科学生产力，致力于有效的指导和支持 退伍军人管理局的临床、研究和培训任务，最终目标是改善健康和生活质量 为了我们国家的退伍军人。

Dr. Twamley bridges neuropsychology and rehabilitation research by developing Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT/CogSMART) interventions and conducting randomized controlled trials to test their efficacy in improving cognition, everyday functioning, and quality of life. These outcomes are important to Veterans, their loved ones, clinicians, VHA, and society, as cognition and functional abilities are directly related to disability and community integration. Indeed, cognitive health is considered a “third pillar” of health, alongside physical health and mental health, and is considered vital in the VA’s Whole Health approach to healthcare. Dr. Twamley’s currently funded studies are all focused on Veterans with cognitive impairment (e.g., due to traumatic brain injury, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, hoarding disorder, or other mental health conditions). She is currently PI or Co-PI of studies funded by VA RRD, VA CSRD, Department of Defense, and the National Science Foundation, and serves as a Co-Investigator on studies funded by VA RRD, VA CSRD, and DoD. Her research uses intervention manuals she and her colleagues developed to target impairments in prospective memory, attention, learning and memory, and executive functioning, which have shown efficacy in multiple domains of cognition and functioning in multiple neuropsychiatric populations. Many of the compensatory strategies taught are simple habits used by many successful people (e.g., using a calendar system for all scheduling and checking it regularly; using organizational approaches to learning and remembering; planning to meet goals and deadlines by listing goal steps and assigning them due dates). Her current RRD Merit Award focuses on CCT for homeless Veterans with mental health conditions receiving residential mental health rehabilitation and treatment; her current CSRD Merit Award trial is examining Motivationally-Enhanced CCT for older Veterans with mild cognitive impairment, and combines compensatory cognitive strategies with lifestyle strategies (e.g., physical activity, nutrition, and sleep-related behaviors to reduce dementia risk). Her newer work seeks to find new ways of implementing cognitive rehabilitation interventions (e.g., in combination with pharmaceuticals targeting brain inflammation; in combination with other psychosocial rehabilitation interventions; compensatory cognitive training in combination with computerized cognitive training; delivery via mobile app or telemedicine; briefer, more personalized interventions; delivery via cognitively assistive robots). Other research interests include cognitive impairment and disability in homeless Veterans, supported employment to assist those with cognitive impairments in returning to work, cognitive impairment in PTSD, and the use of technology to improve cognition and mental health. Dr. Twamley has a rich network of collaborators locally, nationally, and internationally, and she collaborates with researchers and clinicians worldwide to develop, adapt, translate, and disseminate cognitive health interventions. Additionally, she commits considerable time and effort toward mentorship of the next generation of VA clinical rehabilitation scientists dedicated to improving cognitive health in Veterans. Her service activities include scientific peer review for the VA and other agencies, administrative service to multiple professional organizations, and local service on the VA Research and Development Committee. Dr. Twamley combines extensive research experience and a high level of scientific productivity with dedication to effective mentorship and support to the clinical, research, and training missions of the VA, with the ultimate goal of improving health and quality of life for our nation’s Veterans.