About the WRIISC

The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) is a national program dedicated to Veterans' unique post-deployment health concerns, as mandated by Congress following Public Law 105-368, Section 103. The WRIISC serves a critical role for the entire VA Health System in addressing war-related health concerns and addressing military environmental or toxic exposures for Veterans. With locations in New Jersey, California, and Washington, DC, we develop and provide post-deployment health expertise to Veterans and their health care providers through clinical care research, and education.

WRIISC Clinical Services and Referrals

At WRIISC, Veterans are at the center of everything we do. WRIISC provides telehealth and in-person clinical services, including comprehensive interdisciplinary evaluations and military exposure assessments. WRIISC referrals are made through VA primary care providers to ensure coordinated care for eligible Veterans with chronic, unexplained symptoms or complex exposures. As a VA tertiary care center, we partner with referring providers and their health care teams to support the care of Veterans.

Research

WRIISC researchers and clinicians work together to study how deployments and military exposures may impact health. WRIISC research priorities support VA legislative mandates, such as the PACT Act. Knowledge generated from this research helps identify and establish evidence-based best practices and promising treatments for clinicians who care for Veterans.

Education

WRIISC's clinical education program serves as a resource for both Veterans and their health care providers.

Our educational resources for Veterans, caregivers, and loved ones provide information on topics ranging from military exposures and deployment health conditions to self-management techniques for chronic health symptoms.

Our provider-focused education equips both VA and non-VA health care professionals with the knowledge and educational resources they need to deliver the best care to their Veteran patients.

Training and Mentorships

The WRIISC Training Program is an interdisciplinary program that trains physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and research scientists in post-deployment health and research.

Centers of Excellence

Airborne Hazards and Burns Pits Center of Excellence

The Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence (AHBPCE) was officially recognized by Congress and the President in Public Law 115-929 as a VA Center of Excellence in May 2019. AHBPCE focuses on improving health outcomes for Veterans with airborne hazard exposures through specialized clinical evaluations, clinical and translational research, and education and dissemination of best practices.

Women's Operational Military Exposure Network Center of Excellence (WOMEN CoE)

The Women's Operational Military Exposure Network Center of Excellence explores how military deployments and exposures may affect women Veterans. WOMEN CoE provides clinical services to women Veterans, conducts research studies, develops military exposure educational materials, and disseminates that information to providers and Veterans.

Complex Exposure Threats Center of Excellence (CETCE)

Novel technologies and dynamic occupational and environmental conditions present new, poorly understood, and complex military exposures with unknown health impacts. The evolving nature of warfare and conflict in the 21st Century requires that VA adopt a proactive approach to rapidly and effectively respond to these emerging threats to provide the best care for current and future Veterans. CETCE is designed to study, evaluate, and monitor, cohorts of Veterans with these new, complex, or poorly understood military occupational and environmental exposures. CETCE works with DoD partners to identify complex and emerging exposure threats. Current CETCE priorities include Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Anomalous Health Incidents, Chemical Warfare Agents, and Qarmat Ali.