VA Showcases New Medical Advancements in Veteran Care on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON — Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Office of Research and Development hosted a Research Fair at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill to share new medical advancements in improving health care and quality of life for Veterans across the nation.

“VA has a long and distinguished history of health-care research leading to new discoveries and innovations to benefit Veterans and all Americans,” said Acting VA Secretary Peter O’Rourke. “VA continues to conduct cutting-edge research, such as the development and testing of advanced prosthetic limbs, the Million Veteran Program (MVP), precision-medicine initiative and regenerative medicine aimed at repairing severed spinal cords.”

The event featured exhibits and demonstrations covering areas such as prosthetics, robotics, genomics and mental health. In the past, VA research has contributed to groundbreaking advances in medical care and technology, such as the CT scan, the cardiac pacemaker and the first successful liver transplant.

“VA research has resulted in three Nobel prizes, seven Lasker awards and numerous other national and international honors,” said Dr. Carolyn Clancy, executive in charge of VA’s Veterans Health Administration. “We are very proud of the impact our research collaborations has on the health of Veterans and the nation.”

The event also featured more than a dozen leading VA researchers, including Dr. Rory Cooper, a pioneer in wheelchair and other adaptive technology; Dr. Ann McKee, an authority on traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy; and Dr. JoAnn Kirchner, who directs efforts to bring innovative mental health treatments to Veterans.

For more information on VA research, visit research.va.gov.