VA’s Million Veteran Program: One year since one million

Last fall, on Nov. 8, 2023, the millionth Veteran joined VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP). With that, MVP reached a milestone set more than a decade ago when the program was just an idea.  

MVP is now the world’s largest and most diverse genetic research program within a health care system. Thanks to more than one million Veterans who have joined MVP, we are working to better understand how genes, lifestyle, military experiences and exposures affect health and wellness. Our goal is to find new ways to detect, prevent and treat health conditions that matter to Veterans like you. 

MVP is transforming health research

Since our start in 2011, 700+ researchers have used information from MVP and have published more than 400 scientific papers on a wide range of health conditions.

Recently, MVP enabled researchers to: 

• Publish the largest and most diverse genetic study of pain intensity to date. The results provide insights into some genetic contributors to pain and highlight potential related treatments. 
• Conduct and publish a study identifying a polygenic risk score (PRS)—a screening tool—for prostate cancer based on data from MVP participants of European and African ancestries. This tool is undergoing testing in a clinical trial to see if adding the PRS to standard prostate cancer screening can improve early and accurate detection. 
• Conduct a large-scale analysis using findings from one of the largest ever genetic association studies (using MVP data) which identified several hundred potentially new opportunities to repurpose FDA-approved medications or use them to treat or prevent additional health conditions. 

As we move forward, our focus is on continuing to ensure that MVP represents Veterans from all backgrounds and that we make meaningful discoveries to improve health care. We’re also committed to making those discoveries more accessible to you by sharing them in our newsletter “MVP Matters,” on our soon-to-be updated website and on VA’s social media accounts. 

“Looking back on all the Veterans over the years that we’ve talked to and heard their stories, that’s what makes MVP worthwhile,” said Jennifer Deen, MVP’s associate director of Public Relations. “To every single person who is part of this program, thank you.”

Without the more than a million Veterans who have already joined, none of MVP’s research and discoveries would be possible. Thanks to Veterans like you, we’re poised to continue this work well into the future, making discoveries that will lead to better health care for all.  

Learn more about MVP’s research

MVP studies how genes, lifestyle, military experiences and exposures affect health and wellness. This research is building the path to more personalized health care for Veterans. You can learn more about MVP’s research in the following areas: 

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease 
• Diabetes 
• Kidney disease 
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
• Substance use disorders 
• Suicide prevention 
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) 

This research is made possible by more than 1,000,000 Veterans who have already signed up for MVP. Join their ranks by signing up today, either online or calling 866-441-6075, to make an appointment at a participating VA facility.

You don’t need to receive your care at VA to participate.