Brennan Research

Patients with diabetic foot ulcers in rural areas face 50 percent higher odds of major (above-ankle) amputation and 40 percent higher odds of death when compared to their urban counterparts. It isn’t clear why this disparity exists, although limited access to urban specialists (e.g. infectious disease specialists, vascular surgeons) is a factor.

Dr. Brennan is interested in using quantitative and qualitative methodology to explore this urban-rural disparity, and working alongside rural stakeholders to develop and test interventions to reduce major amputation rates.

• Lindsay Kalan, PhD
• Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
• Christie Bartels, MD, MS
• Amy Kind, MD, PhD
• Yao Liu, MD, MS
• Chris Crnich, MD, PhD
• Health Innovation Program
• The Center for Health Disparities Research (CHDR)

Adjuvant Rifampin for Osteomyelitis Complicating Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Adding rifampin to a backbone antibiotic regimen to treat osteomyelitis in patients with diabetic foot ulcers may improve outcomes. Dr. Brennan is part of a national team conducting a randomized control trial answering this question (VA INTREPID trial).

Predicting Wound Healing Based Upon the Microbiome

Dr. Brennan is collaborating with Dr. Lindsay Kalan, a microbiologist, to identify predictors of healing based on the wound microbiome, including microbiome composition, microorganism-microrganism interactions, and host-microorganism interactions. They are using a prospective cohort design and next generation sequencing to answer these questions.

Crossing the Divide

Dr. Brennan is working with rural health clinics throughout Wisconsin to pilot an integrated care model that facilitates collaboration across the rural-urban divide for patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

Dr. Brennan's research is funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and a Department of Medicine Medical Education Innovation grant.