War Related Illness and Injury Study Center

Volunteer for Research at CA WRIISC

The WRIISC conducts research studies for illnesses and injuries affecting Veterans of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield (ODSS) (1990-1991 Persian Gulf War), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OIF/OND) (Iraq) and other conflict eras. The CA WRIISC is investigating new treatments for chronic pain in ODSS Veterans, mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and working to improve diagnostic tools for brain injury.

If you are interested in participating in any of the research projects outlined below, please contact us.

Please note our studies are located in Palo Alto, CA and may require travel to the VA Palo Alto facility in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.

• Clinical Data Collection for Patients Seen in the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (CA)

  Principal Investigator: J. Wesson Ashford, MD, PhD and Ansgar Furst, PhD

  Purpose:The purpose of this on-going project is to study 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.

  Eligibility: This project is only recruiting subjects who are referred to the WRIISC clinical evaluation program.

  WRIISC Clinical Data Repository Consent in a Word Document

  WRIISC Clinical Data Repository Consent Form as a PDF

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• Sleepless Warriors: Improving sleep in Veterans with a history of concussion

  Principal Investigator: Ansgar Furst, PhD

  Coordinators: Rayma Williams, Rebecca Williams

  Purpose:The purpose of this fully virtual study is to compare two types of non-drug therapies for insomnia to determine if one is more helpful for improving sleep. You may be eligible for this study if you have suffered a concussion or mild head injury, and have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This research is sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and is conducted in collaboration with Stanford University. Participation will require 9 virtual weekly “visits” and one 6 month follow-up virtual appointment. We offer compensation for each visit for a total of up to $325.

  Study Phone Number: (650) 852-3426

  Website: http://med.stanford.edu/sleepless-warriors/participate.html.

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• Project IN-DEPTH: VA-NIH Investigative Deep Phenotyping (IN-DEPTH) of Gulf War Veteran Health (cIRB 20-34)

  Matthew Reinhard, PsyD; Michelle Costanzo, PhD; Nancy Klimas, MD

  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, Alyssa Roach, 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 partnership, 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.
  
  Looking closer, 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.

  Purpose: The purpose of Project IN-DEPTH, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is to understand why many Gulf War Veterans are sick and how we can help improve their health. The goal of this partnership is to:

  • Provide an improved understanding of GWI pathobiology. With this study, there is potential to
  • Advance GWI diagnosis and case definition
  • Provide insight into the biological and molecular signatures of GWI
  • Identify potential treatment targets for GWI
  • Offer a new direction for future GWI research
  • Establish infrastructure and agreements with the NIH that will help build models of investigation that are new to the VA
  • Data sharing with the NIH enables investigations of populations that experience similar symptoms as GWI but have a different diagnosis (such as chronic fatigue syndrome, post-COVID-19 and healthy civilians who are enrolled in other NIH studies). This may improve understanding of what makes people sick for years after an incident such as infection or military exposure.
  • Create a repository for biological samples and data for validation and future studies
  • Generate platforms and procedures for collaboration with the objective to improve patient outcomes, overall health, and quality of life

  Eligibility: 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. Or learn more here.

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• Mechanisms of oxidative stress during N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) supplementation in Veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI)

  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.

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• Research Data Collection for Patients Seen in the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center

  Principal Investigator: 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.

  Eligibility: If you’re interested, the WRIISC research team will reach out to you. 

  Research Consent Form in a Word Document

  Research Consent Form as a PDF

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