Research & Development - US Department of Veterans Affairs

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"VA Research has been, and always will be, at the forefront of innovation"
For 100 years, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Research and Development program has been improving the lives of Veterans and all Americans through health care discovery and innovation.

: Reducing alcohol cravings improves PTSD treatmentWhen PTSD and alcohol use disorder occur together it can lead to wor...
08/21/2026

: Reducing alcohol cravings improves PTSD treatment

When PTSD and alcohol use disorder occur together it can lead to worse outcomes, but VA San Diego Healthcare System researchers proved treating both together can lead to better results. The researchers split 100 Veterans with both PTSD and alcohol use disorder into two groups: both groups received 12 sessions of prolonged exposure therapy, but one group also received the medication topiramate, which has been shown to reduce alcohol cravings. By the sixth session, those receiving topiramate showed a greater reduction in alcohol cravings. By the ninth session, those receiving topiramate also had less PTSD symptoms than the other group. Analysis suggested the reductions in alcohol cravings drove the subsequent improvements in PTSD symptoms, providing a potential new path for Veterans to improve PTSD treatment.

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258452

: Notification tool reduces VA hospital-acquired infectionsA study of 103 VA medical centers showed an increased use of...
08/19/2026

: Notification tool reduces VA hospital-acquired infections

A study of 103 VA medical centers showed an increased use of an electronic tracking and alert system effectively lowered rates of multidrug-resistant organism infection in VA hospitals. The VA Bug Alert (VABA) system automatically notifies infection prevention personnel at VA medical centers when a patient with a history of colonization or infection with drug-resistant bacteria is admitted, so they can take measures to prevent infection spread. Analysis showed every 10 days of increased VABA use was associated with a 2.2% decrease in the number of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and a 5% decrease in the number of carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CP-CRE) infections, two dangerous bacteria commonly acquired during hospital stays. The results highlight VABA as an effective way to reduce hospital-acquired infections and improve Veterans' care in VA medical centers.

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258453

: Centralized lung cancer screenings increase Veterans' accessVA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System researchers show...
08/18/2026

: Centralized lung cancer screenings increase Veterans' access
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System researchers showed adding a centralized approach to lung cancer screening for Veterans can increase the rate by 75%. In a centralized approach, dedicated staff and support tools coordinate screening and follow-up referrals. A decentralized model relies on individual primary care clinicians to recommend screening. By analyzing VA data from 2015 to 2021, involving more than 150,000 Veterans who were screened for lung cancer, the researchers found a hybrid model using both primary care clinicians and a centralized process was particularly effective at improving lung cancer screening rates for rural Veterans and those living in disadvantaged regions.

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258454

: Metabolic syndrome increases risk of C. diff infectionMetabolic syndrome is a condition combining obesity and factors...
08/14/2026

: Metabolic syndrome increases risk of C. diff infection

Metabolic syndrome is a condition combining obesity and factors such as insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and low good cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. A Southern Arizona VA Health Care System study found it also nearly doubles the risk of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection, a contagious bacterium that causes diarrhea and colon inflammation. The analysis of almost four million patients from 30 countries revealed metabolic syndrome increased the odds of C. diff infection by 94%, while obesity alone increases the risk by 14%, and diabetes alone increases the risk by 11%. Metabolic syndrome can alter the gut microbiota and increase chronic inflammation, altering the immune system, according to the researchers. The results suggest a need to consider patients' metabolic health to prevent and treat C. diff infection. (Open Forum Infectious Diseases, Jul. 22, 2026)

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258449

: Brief behavioral therapy improves chronic pain interferenceResearchers from the VA Center for Integrated Healthcare d...
08/12/2026

: Brief behavioral therapy improves chronic pain interference

Researchers from the VA Center for Integrated Healthcare demonstrated that brief cognitive behavioral therapy can rapidly improve chronic pain interference. The study divided 184 Veterans with moderate to severe chronic pain into two groups: those receiving the usual pain care and those receiving six 30-minute sessions of psychoeducation, behavioral and cognitive skills, and relapse prevention, along with the usual pain care, delivered over 12 weeks. Veterans receiving the brief cognitive therapy had greater improvements in how much pain interfered with life during treatment and still sustained those improvements three months later. The behavioral treatment was also associated with improved physical quality of life and sleep quality. The results suggest even brief behavioral therapy can lead to improvements in pain outcomes. (Pain, Aug. 1, 2026)

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258448

: MVP leads to new tool predicting drug safety risksVA Million Veteran Program researchers led a team that developed a ...
08/10/2026

: MVP leads to new tool predicting drug safety risks

VA Million Veteran Program researchers led a team that developed a genomic atlas to predict adverse drug reactions. The research team then released an interactive web interface of the atlas (https://shiny.parse-health.org/safety/) that allows for filtering by gene, drug phase, and how a drug works on the body. The team analyzed almost 17,000 genes, demonstrating the capacity to predict hundreds of known adverse drug reactions for approved medications and suggest other potential adverse interactions. Genetic variants linked to immune-related pathways were particularly prominent in drug reactions, suggesting attention should be given to medications that work on these pathways. The new gene atlas could be a powerful new tool to predict and improve drug safety. (PLoS Genetics, Jul. 16, 2026)

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258447

: Exercise improves health outcomes in Veterans with TBIWhile it is well known physical activity improves mental health...
08/07/2026

: Exercise improves health outcomes in Veterans with TBI

While it is well known physical activity improves mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and even PTSD symptoms, VA San Diego Healthcare System and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System researchers showed exercise can also improve health outcomes for Veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The VA Million Veteran Program survey included more than 7,000 Veterans who had been screened for TBI, finding the connection between physical activity and health outcomes was even more pronounced in Veterans with TBI, suggesting physical activity could be an important way to help alleviate chronic TBI symptoms. Higher levels of physical activity were connected to greater effect on health outcomes, and even small amounts of physical activity resulted in meaningful improvements. The results underscore the potential of exercise as an accessible intervention for Veterans with TBI. (Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, Jun. 19, 2026)

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258446

: Choosing Home program helps older VeteransVA researchers in VA Providence Healthcare System and VA Boston Healthcare ...
08/05/2026

: Choosing Home program helps older Veterans
VA researchers in VA Providence Healthcare System and VA Boston Healthcare System interviewed Veterans and caregivers participating in a new home care program, finding it improved their health, self-management, and caregiver effectiveness. Choose Home is an interdisciplinary, short-term home-care program designed to support Veterans at risk of losing independence. In a group of participating Veterans, 85% felt they were doing better at home, 90% felt more able to manage their VA care, and 89% were satisfied with the program. Open-ended survey questions revealed strengths of the program, including promoting aging in place by fostering autonomy and dignity; holistic care during health crises through coordinated support; and caregiver empowerment through education, relief, and practical assistance. The responses show Choosing Home could help aging Veterans stay independent and in their homes longer. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Jul. 16, 2026)

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258445

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