Scholars invited to apply to research health effects of airborne hazard exposure

A new visiting scholar program will further VA research on health effects related to airborne hazard exposure during deployment and improve medical care for Veterans and non-Veterans alike.

VA’s Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence has launched the Oscar Auerbach Visiting Scholar Program, named in honor of celebrated physician-scientist Dr. Oscar Auerbach.

Visiting Scholar Program

Inspired by Auerbach’s legacy and with the aim of uncovering new medical breakthroughs, the program will provide multi-year support to highly accomplished VA investigators who are working to pursue research questions pertaining to long-term health outcomes among Veterans with military environmental exposure.

For the program’s first group of VA investigators, the center seeks individuals who are motivated to understand the incidence and prevalence of cancers and other potential health conditions among the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits Registry participants.

The Center is asking applicants to propose potential topics or research questions as part of their application. Some examples may include:

• Linkage of registry participants to mortality, cancer incidence or other chronic disease records
• Identification of Veteran groups disproportionately affected by cancer incidence, mortality or cancer risk prevalence
• Assessment of the association of deployment-related exposures on cancer mortality or incidence or on other chronic diseases among Veterans

With this new program, the Center plans to further its already cutting-edge research efforts and continue to make great strides toward better health outcomes among the nation’s Veterans.

Visiting Scholar application process

Those interested in applying must meet the eligibility criteria for VA research investigators (VHA Handbook 1200.15) and hold a Ph.D., MD, or equivalent terminal degree and maintain a VA appointment. Applicants must also have experience utilizing VA and non-VA data sources in their research.

Potential applicants can find more information here.

Auerbach, whose memory serves as the inspiration for this program, is known for establishing a clear link between tobacco smoke and lung cancer. As a pathologist, he performed meticulous autopsies on people who had succumbed to lung cancer after smoking for years. He also studied the effects of tobacco smoke on lab animals with lungs that were similar to humans.

About the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence

The Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence was officially recognized by Congress and the President in May 2019. We are advocates for Veterans who have concerns about potential adverse health outcomes related to airborne hazard exposures.

Through ongoing research and clinical work, we seek to understand and find solutions for exposure-related health issues. Through education and outreach, we provide information to providers and Veterans on our findings that can lead to better evaluation, management and care.