National VA Research Week occurs in May. This year’s theme was “Science in Service of Veterans.” The VA Office of Research and Development encourages Veterans, Veterans Service Organizations, VA employees and other stakeholders to learn more about VA research’s significant role in improving Veterans’ health and well-being.
Medical Researcher
VA research is often the channel for new technologies to be introduced, federally approved and brought to the global mainstream clinical environment. VA researchers are part of the innovative teams that developed effective treatments for tuberculosis, mobile app for preventing suicide, new PTSD treatments, advanced prosthetic arm and hand, advancements in spinal cord injuries, invented the CAT scan, and performed the first-ever liver transplant. Cutting-edge research is more robust today than ever at VA medical centers nationwide. VA research is working to improve Veterans’ lives through health care discovery and innovation.
“Research Week is a great time to highlight research achievements and innovations,” explained Chief Research and Development Officer Rachel Ramoni. “I look forward to interacting with team members across the research enterprise as we acknowledge VA’s extraordinary achievements in research and innovation and celebrate our meaningful partnerships with academic affiliates, nonprofits and organizations within the private and public sectors.”
A new series of VA Research videos highlighting how VA research innovations have helped advance care for Veterans is available on YouTube. More information and resources about Research Week can be found on the Office of Research and Development website. The Office of Research and Development also hosted an online virtual Research Symposium in May, featuring presentations by award-winning VA researchers.
VA’s research program plays a vital role in the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective care for the nation’s Veterans and makes significant contributions to advances in diagnosis and treatment of disease and disability. Research Week aims to raise public awareness of VA’s research accomplishments as an essential part of VA’s mission of improving Veterans’ lives.