In This Issue

New Initiatives

Super-charging research on spinal cord injury

When physician-researcher Mark Tuszynski, MD, PhD, talks with patients who have spinal cord injury, he advises them to "have a positive outlook and keep their bodies...

Key Findings

Patients taking warfarin, a widely used blood-thinning pill that requires careful monitoring to ensure the right dose, achieve similar outcomes whether they come into a clinic or use a self-testing device at home...

Greater medical burden seen in Veterans with PTSD

A large study by Veterans Affairs and Stanford University researchers shows that among the newest generation of Veterans enrolled in VA care, those with a mental health condition—especially posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—tend to have more physical ailments...

Altitude may figure in U.S. West's high suicide rate

Parts of the Western U.S. are renowned for majestic mountains and high deserts. But according to new research from VA and the University of Utah Brain Institute, the region's lofty altitudes may play a role in a deadly problem...

Is chocolate good for your heart?

Go ahead, eat that chunk of dark chocolate—you may be doing your heart a favor...

Impact on Care

VA Research helps launch course for clinicians on genetics and colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a "high-volume, high-risk" disease: It's the third most common cancer in the U.S. and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths...

Upcoming Events

Polytrauma conference in December

VA researchers and others involved in studying, improving and delivering polytrauma care will meet in Bethesda, Md., on Dec. 7 and 8 for the "3rd Annual Traumatic Spectrum Conference...

In Brief

Amendments to nurse practitioner study

Earlier this year, VA Research Currents reported on a VA study in the March 2010 issue of the American Journal of Nurse Practitioners that had concluded that a majority of VA primary care patients "prefer to see nurse practitioners [NPs]..."