In celebration of important medical research conducted by the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), VA medical centers (VAMCs) nationwide will showcase innovative solutions that VA scientists are developing and bringing into clinical practice with help of university partners and other public and private institutions during VA Research Week, May 13-17.
VAMCs will commemorate VA Research Week with special events such as tours of their research facilities, lectures, poster displays and luncheons to honor the Veterans who voluntarily participate in VA Research studies.
“The Science of Hope,” VA’s 2019 Research Week theme, underscores the promise that the department’s research brings to Veterans and their loved ones coping with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, limb loss, chronic disease and other serious health challenges.
“One of the most important things we accomplish every day in VA is bringing new hope to Veterans,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “VA research plays a huge role in that mission. Scientists at VA medical centers across the nation are changing the face of medicine and rehabilitation.”
Examples of current VA Research include advances in prosthetics, such as artificial hands that restore a sense of natural touch; and in precision oncology, which uses molecular analysis of tumors and other individual patient factors to customize cancer treatment.
A focus of VA Research Week includes VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP), one of the world’s largest genomic databases. As of mid-April, the program has enrolled nearly 750,000 Veterans. Researchers using MVP data have published important findings on the genetics of hypertension, substance use disorders and other important topics.
In 2019 VA celebrates 94 years of VA Research. To learn more about the work of VA researchers, past and present, visit www.research.va.gov. For more information on local and national events marking National VA Research Week, visit www.research.va.gov/researchweek.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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