History
Section 103 of Public Law 105-368 directed VA to contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to develop a plan for establishing national centers for the study of war-related illnesses and post-deployment issues.
On November 5, 1999, the NAS recommended that VA establish centers for the study of war-related illnesses similar in structure to VA’s Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers. NAS came to the conclusion that applying a proven model of care, research, and education to the issue of deployment health "should contribute greatly to the advancement of knowledge in this area."
In 2001, after a competitive review process the first two WRIISC centers were established; one at the Washington, DC VA and the other at the East Orange Campus of the VA New Jersey Health Care System. Initially these centers were titled the CSWRI (Center for the Study of War-Related Illnesses). Later, they were renamed the War-Related Illness and Injury Center and abbreviated "WRIISC".
To provide wider coverage and easier access for Veterans, an additional WRIISC was authorized and became operational at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in Palo Alto, CA in February 2008.
