The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced on July 7 that it will use data from the VA's Million Veteran Program to look at conditions that are high priorities to the veterans' community: kidney disease, heart disease and substance abuse.
MVP is a VA-funded research program that collects voluntarily donated blood samples and health information from veterans across the country. The goal of the database is to study the way that health is affected by genes.
According to a press release, in addition to studying the three conditions, researchers will attempt to establish new ways to connect MVP and other sources of health information.
There are multiple health care resources available to former soldiers during the transition to civilian life.
The research will be divided into four studies:
1. Cardiovascular risk factors
This study, led by doctors from the Atlanta VA Medical Center and the Boston VA Health Care System, will look at the way that heart health is influenced by the genes that affect obesity and lipid levels. Researchers will specifically try to determine if and how these factors vary among the Hispanic and African-American communities.
2. Pharmacogenomics of kidney disease
Researchers using the MVP to examine how genetics affect kidney disease will specifically focus on how genetic profiles affect a diabetic patient's response to treatment. The study will also look at the genetics of hypertension, a known risk factor for kidney problems.
3. Metabolic conditions
The metabolic portion of the research will examine the genetics of diabetes, obesity and abnormal lipid levels, and how they can drive cardiovascular disease. Researchers hope to gain a greater understanding of cardiometabolic disease to develop better treatment strategies.
4. Multi-use substance abuse
Researchers in this study will look at the genetic profiles of veterans who habitually use tobacco, alcohol and opioids to study risk factors. The team will also look at those who use all three substances together.
"There's already been an impressive amount of data collected through MVP, and we're continuing to engage more veterans in the program and building its research infrastructure through studies like these," VA Chief Research and Development Officer Dr. Timothy O' Leary said in a statement.
According to Health Data Management, MVP is currently also being used to study post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.