War Related Illness and Injury Study Center
Volunteer for WRIISC Research
Why Should I Volunteer for WRIISC Research?
WRIISC is committed to cutting edge research focused on responding to the deployment health-related concerns facing Veterans of all eras. As part of the VA, the WRIISC joins the ranks of one of the nation's leaders in health research. WRIISC research has significantly contributed to advancements in health care for Veterans and other Americans from every walk of life.
Participating in WRIISC research may not help you personally, but your participation may provide information that will improve the lives of others in the future. Please consider WRIISC volunteer opportunities, either virtually or at a WRIISC location near you.
Volunteer for Research at the WRIISC
Currently, the WRIISC has several important research studies for Veterans of the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, as well as other studies that are not deployment specific. These studies focus on airborne exposures, cognitive fatigue, physical fatigue, and mild traumatic brain injury, among others.
CA WRIISC Research
If you have questions about WRIISC CA research or are interested in participating in any of the research projects outlined below, please contact us at 1-888-482-4376.
Our studies are located in Palo Alto, California. Some may require travel to the VA Palo Alto facility in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, while others are fully virtual.
Principal Investigators: J. Wesson Ashford, MD, PhD and Ansgar Furst, PhD
The purpose of this study is to examine and make recommendations regarding treatment of deployment-related injuries and illnesses. One of the objectives of the WRIISC is to evaluate Veterans with multiple unexplained symptoms and/or treatment-resistant symptoms and educate other health providers about war-related illnesses and injuries. We collect and store data from WRIISC patients for analysis in order to provide information to clinicians treating combat Veterans. Stored data includes brain scans, neuropsychological tests, and other information from the patient's clinical evaluation.
Who can take part: Recruitment for this study occurs through the WRIISC clinical evaluation program.
Primary CA WRIISC staff: J. Wesson Ashford, Eleni Stogianni, Sophia Akitt
Primary DC WRIISC staff: Matthew Reinhard, Michelle Costanzo, Arghavan Hamedi, Kamila Pollin, Lucas Crock, Emily Zurek, Diana Ngo, Timothy Chun, John Barrett, Rachel Stewart, Charity Breneman, Immanuel Samuel, Ryan Brewster
Background: Volunteer from home to improve Gulf War Veterans' health.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has partnered with National Institutes of Health (NIH) to better understand the complexities of Gulf War Illness (GWI) persistence. In this study, the VA is screening volunteers for GWI from their homes; next, NIH conducts an in-depth analysis ("deep phenotyping") of GWI in the screened VA volunteers.
This VA study involves 1) volunteer recruitment, 2) health and GWI screenings, 3) interviews to understand living with GWI, 4) computational & systems biology analyses, 5) follow-up care and communications, and 6) data and specimen storage. This helps the VA decide if the volunteer is eligible for NIH deep phenotyping, a separate study. If so, the volunteer is invited to a 12-15-day stay at NIH for clinical exams and testing to understand GWI and its effects on the human body.
Who can take part: GW Veterans who were deployed to ODS/S between August 1990 and June 1991 and aged 48-70 at time of study enrollment are eligible to be screened.
To participate: For more information, please contact Timothy Chun at 202-286-4826 or email us.
Principal Investigator: J. Wesson Ashford, PhD
Clinical Research Coordinators: Eleni Stogianni and Sophia Akitt
Description of study purpose and goals: Chronic oxidative stress has been linked to Gulf War Illness in Veterans and affects a part of our cells called mitochondria. One of the root causes of this condition may be cellular depletion of glutathione (also known as GSH), a powerful antioxidant found in the body. The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effects of an FDA-approved supplement called N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) on GSH levels and symptoms of Gulf War Illness. Participants will take NAC orally for 8 weeks and complete on-site visits prior to starting NAC and after completing the 8 weeks. Onsite visits include completing questionnaires, cognitive testing, blood and urine sampling, and physical examination. There are additional assessments that can be conducted remotely (via phone or videoconferencing), and these occur every 2 weeks until week 16.
Who can take part: Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War (Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield) experiencing symptoms of Gulf War Illness (GWI).
To participate: Call (800) 225-5170 and ask about the "NAC Study" or learn more here.
Principal Investigators: Peter Bayley, PhD
Purpose: Before your WRIISC appointment, are you interested in participating in a WRIISC research study using a watch wearable? You will be expected to wear a watch for 7 consecutive days, while it passively collects data, such as pulse rate, temperature, sleep, activity, and step count.
Who can take part: If you're interested, the WRIISC research team will reach out to you.
This study's consent forms are available here as a Word document and PDF.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ansgar Furst, PhD
Clinical Research Coordinator: Rayma Williams
Purpose: About 30% of veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War from 1990-1991 are suffering from Gulf War Illness, a chronic condition that is still not well understood and for which adequate treatment is lacking. The purpose of this study is to understand how the brain stem regulates sleep and pain in Gulf War Illness. Participation will require one day-long evaluation at the Palo Alto VA that will include interviews, cognitive testing, and an MRI. We offer compensation of $250.
Who can take part: You may be eligible for this study if you are a veteran who served during the Gulf War, whether you were deployed or not, and whether you experience health symptoms or not.
To participate: Call (650) 339-4015.
DC WRIISC Research
If you have questions about WRIISC DC research or are interested in participating in any of the research projects outlined below, please contact us at 1-800-722-8340.
Our studies are located in Washington, DC. Some may require travel to the VA Medical Center in Washington, DC, while others are fully virtual.
Principal Investigator: Nate Allen; Timothy Chun; Jeremy Chester; Calvin Lu, PhD
Purpose: This goal of this protocol is to establish a data repository that addresses both the clinical and research mission of the WRIISC. This data repository consists of clinical, administrative, satisfaction and health care utilization data for Veterans who provide informed consent to include their data in the repository and are seen in the DC WRIISC. The compilation of this data allows the DC WRIISC to systematically collect, organize and view complex clinical data for use by practitioners as they formulate diagnoses and recommendations. Additionally, data analysis will guide continuous quality improvement practices within the DC WRIISC. In terms of research, the establishment of a data repository will help us to better define the health concerns of the Veterans we see. By collecting data about the demographic, clinical, and biomedical findings of Veterans seen at the DC WRIISC, we hope to gain insights into the cause, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions that are difficult to diagnose and treat.
Who can take part: Veterans who are seen in the DC WRIISC National Referral Program are eligible to participate in this database repository protocol.
Principal Investigator: Matthew Reinhard, PsyD; Michelle Costanzo, PhD
Primary DC WRIISC staff: Michelle Costanzo, Calvin Lu, Immanuel Samuel, Michelle Prisco, Charity Breneman, Kamila Pollin, Sherri Tschida, Timothy Chun, Owen Killy, Lily Reck
Background: Veterans are exposed to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) before, during, and after their military service. The effects of TBI can vary, but these injuries can affect many different parts of a Veteran's life. TBI symptoms vary and can be difficult to diagnose and treat. In this study, we explore the relationship between markers of TBI, military exposures, and health outcomes to improve the VHA's medical recognition and diagnosis of disease.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to better understand the structural and functional underpinnings of TBI in Veterans using multi-modal data. It aims to understand the relationship between brain injury and psychological assessments, neural activity, brain structure and functional organization. This study also will explore Veteran perceptions about environmental exposures they may have encountered during their deployment(s).
Who can take part: Veterans who are seen in the DC WRIISC National Referral Program are eligible to participate in this study.
Primary CA WRIISC staff: J. Wesson Ashford, Eleni Stogianni, Sophia Akitt
Primary DC WRIISC staff: Matthew Reinhard, Michelle Costanzo, Arghavan Hamedi, Kamila Pollin, Lucas Crock, Emily Zurek, Diana Ngo, Timothy Chun, John Barrett, Rachel Stewart, Charity Breneman, Immanuel Samuel, Ryan Brewster
Background: Volunteer from home to understand Gulf War Veterans' health.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has partnered with National Institutes of Health (NIH) to better understand the complexities of Gulf War Illness (GWI) persistence. In this study, the VA is screening volunteers for GWI from their homes; next, NIH conducts an in-depth analysis ("deep phenotyping") of GWI in the screened VA volunteers.
The VA study involves remote recruitment and a tiered screening strategy to identify 50 Veterans with GWI and 25 healthy Veteran controls that will be invited to a 12-15-day stay at NIH for clinical exams and testing to understand GWI and its effects on the human body. The VA study will also perform computational & systems biology analyses, manage a data and specimen repository, and provide follow-up care and communications.
Who can take part: GW Veterans who were deployed to ODS/S between August 1990 and June 1991, and aged 48-70 at time of study enrollment are eligible to be screened.
To participate: For more information, please contact Timothy Chun at 202-286-4826 or email us.
To learn more: click here
Principal Investigator: Michelle Costanzo, PhD
Primary DC WRIISC staff: Michelle Costanzo, Charity Breneman, Arghavan Hamedi
Background: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is:
- A measure of the fluctuations in the duration of time between two heartbeats that can be easily calculated from an electrocardiogram (ECG) recording.
- Becoming more common for athletes and coaches to use this measure to monitor adaptations to exercise training and to prescribe daily training stimuli.
- Has not been studied much in non-athletes; there is a need for more research among clinical populations such as those suffering from chronic multi-symptom illness (CMI) to see if HRV may help with symptoms.
Purpose: We believe HRV may be a way to monitor the day-to-day fluctuations in symptoms experienced by those individuals with CMI and help us to determine which days are ideal for them to exercise at moderate intensity. The purpose of this pilot study is to monitor responses to exercise in a group of individuals with CMI.
- To do this, we plan to compare two exercise programs:
- a traditional, generalized exercise program, and
- an individualized program that uses heart rate variability (HRV) to modify the intensity level.
- HRV provides a measure of recovery and will be monitored in both groups to help us understand how exercise may impact chronic symptoms.
Who can take part: US Veterans who:
- Are between 20 to 65 years of age,
- Are physically inactive,
- Experience pain, fatigue, and/or trouble concentrating,
- Are able to exercise independently,
- Do not have a chronic medical condition that would prevent them from exercising,
- Have wi-fi (for data collection purposes), and
- Have a smart phone with a plan that includes the ability to download apps.
To participate: For more information, please contact Ms. Arghavan Hamedi at (202) 215-8465.
NJ WRIISC Research
If you have questions about WRIISC NJ research or are interested in participating in any of the research projects outlined below, please contact us at 1-800-225-5170.
Our studies are located in East Orange, New Jersey. Some may require travel to the East Orange VA Medical Center, while others are fully virtual.
Principal Investigator: Helena Chandler, PhD
Description of study purpose and goals: Chronic oxidative stress has been linked to Gulf War Illness in Veterans and affects a part of our cells called mitochondria. One of the root causes of this condition may be cellular depletion of glutathione (also known as GSH), a powerful antioxidant found in the body. The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effects of an FDA-approved supplement called N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) on GSH levels and symptoms of Gulf War Illness. Participants will take NAC orally for 8 weeks and complete on-site visits prior to starting NAC and after completing the 8 weeks. Onsite visits include completing questionnaires, cognitive testing, blood and urine sampling, and physical examination. There are additional assessments that can be conducted remotely (via phone or videoconferencing), and these occur every 2 weeks until week 16.
Who can take part: Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War (Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield) experiencing symptoms of Gulf War Illness (GWI).
To participate: Call (800) 225-5170 and ask about the "NAC Study"
Principal Investigator: Lisa McAndrew, PhD
Description of study purpose and goals: We are conducting a research study to learn whether or not collaborative care among specialty providers can improve the health and quality of care that Gulf War Veterans receive. We are recruiting Veterans who served in the first Gulf War and experience symptoms of Gulf War Illness, like chronic pain, fatigue, trouble concentrating, etc. Veterans must have a VA health care provider at any VA health care facility throughout the United States. If you qualify and choose to take part in the study, you will be asked to do the following: complete 3 packets of questionnaires at different time points over a period of approximately 9 months. Receive either Problem-solving Treatment and Health Coaching and pain medication management from specialty providers OR treatment recommendations that will be provided to you and your primary care provider.
Who can take part: We are seeking Veterans who served in the Gulf War and who are currently enrolled in the VA Health Care System. We are enrolling Veterans from anywhere in the U.S., and Veterans can participate in the study in-person or completely remotely.
To participate: Call 1-800-225-5170 and indicate interest in the "Symptom Clinic Study"
Principal Investigator: Michael J. Falvo, PhD
Description of study purpose and goals: Veterans with Gulf War Illness commonly report symptoms that span several different body systems. These symptoms (especially fatigue) tend to be made worse after a bout of exercise, or some kind of strenuous exertion. The goal of this study is to understand the source of symptoms in those different body systems. This study involves cycling on a stationary bike and providing blood samples during the course of two study visits lasting 2-3 hours each.
Who can take part: Gulf War Veterans
To participate: Call 1-800-225-5170 or email VHAEASWRIISCNJ@va.gov and ask for the "Gulf War Illness Brain Study."
Principal Investigator: Lisa McAndrew, PhD
Description of study purpose and goals: Chronic pain is one of the most common healthcare issues that Veterans face. We are conducting a study where we hope to learn whether a remote-delivered health coaching intervention will reduce disability and impairment caused by chronic pain compared to receiving attentional control. Veterans who qualify and choose to take part in the study will receive 12, ~1 hour remote-delivered sessions of either Health Coaching Treatment or Attentional Control with a Study Provider and complete 4 questionnaire packets over a 6-month period.
Who can take part: We are seeking Veterans who experience chronic pain, such as muscle/joint pain or widespread pain. We are enrolling Veterans from anywhere in the U.S., and Veterans can participate in the study in-person or completely remotely.
To participate: Call 1-800-248-8005 and indicate interest in the "Health Coaching CMI Study".
Health Coaching for Chronic Multi-symptom Illness — Click here for study documents
The recruitment phase of this study is complete at this time. We are not currently enrolling new participants.
