The award was presented on June 11, 2010, for Dr. Chouteau's presentation titled "A mitochondrially targeted DNA repair enzyme prevents oxidant-induced edema formation in ex vivo perfused lungs.”
“There were many excellent resident research projects presented at the conference,” Dr. Chouteau said. “It was a gratifying surprise to be chosen for the award.”
Dr. Chouteau’s presentation focused on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a severe and often fatal medical condition that can result from severe trauma. “Patients usually mount an overzealous immune response to an inflammatory insult, like a blood borne infection,” Dr. Chouteau said. “This can result in accumulation of fluid in the lung and air spaces.”
Dr. Chouteau said current treatment options for ARDS have minimal or no effect on patient mortality. Investigators at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, including Dr. Glenn Wilson, chair of the department of cell biology and neuroscience, have developed an investigational drug molecule that may help a cell repair damaged DNA. Studies have shown that this drug prolongs cell survival after exposure to an inflammatory-DNA damaging insult.
Dr. Chouteau’s research tested the hypothesis that the injection of the drug can protect against development of ARDS in lab models. “Ultimately I found that the drug was extremely effective in preventing the development of ARDS,” he said. “We plan to do more studies on this very promising drug in order to develop an effective treatment for our surgical patients who develop ARDS as a result of severe trauma.”
Dr. Chouteau said that it is a unique opportunity for residents to take time out of their residency to conduct research. “I really think it depends on the individual resident’s career goals and the resident’s desire to be part of a research project,” he said. “In my case, I have always been interested in both research and in a career in academic surgery.”
After studying chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Chouteau received his doctorate of osteopathic medicine from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He then began his general surgery internship and residency at USA. Dr. Chouteau has been working with Dr. Mark Gillespie, professor and chair of pharmacology at USA, as a surgical research fellow since March 2009, with plans to return to residency in July 2011.
