Gulf War Research Program

The mission of the Gulf War Research Program is to conduct and facilitate high quality Gulf War Research that is rooted in an understanding of the Veteran experience and successful collaboration between Gulf War researchers and stakeholders.

Our current research portfolio includes:

Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository Pilot Project (CSP #585)

The primary objective of this project is to develop a research cohort of Veterans who served during the 1990-1991 Gulf War Era, and a biorepository, that can be accessed by investigators who want to study the health and health conditions of this population. The first phase of the pilot project assessed the feasibility of and evaluated methods for recruitment, blood collection, tracking, and data storage to inform a full scale project and future research activities. This phase was completed in May 2016, and the results are being analyzed. Interested investigators may submit requests to access the data and/or specimens through the CSPEC-Durham Data and Specimen Repository.

The team is currently implementing the second phase of the pilot project which involves qualitative research that aims to better understand Gulf War Era Veterans' perspectives regarding participating in research. These findings will help inform and improve future research projects involving this population.

Study Chair: Dawn Provenzale, MD, MS

For additional information, please visit the CSP #585 website.

Genomics of Gulf War Illness in Veterans (CSP #2006)

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate potential genetic risk factors for Gulf War Illness by conducting a genome-wide association study. Data will be collected under the Million Veterans Program (MVP) protocol. This study leverages the rich resources of the Million Veterans Program; identifying Gulf War I Era Veterans, administering a follow up survey to those Veterans and obtaining data on their Gulf War experience and subsequent health conditions.

Study Chairs: Dawn Provenzale, MD, MS; Drew Helmer, MD, MPH

National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and the ALS DNA Bank (CSP #500)

The primary objective of this studywas to identify, as completely as possible, all Veterans with ALS and to collect data and DNA samples that will be available for approved studies examining the causes of ALS. The Registry and DNA Bank are closed to enrollment, and all follow-ups with the study cohort have been completed. More than 2,100 Veterans were enrolled in the Registry, and more than 1,200 of these participants provided DNA samples. Thirteen studies have been approved to use Registry data for epidemiological, observational, and interventional protocols. Interested investigators may submit requests to access the data and/or specimens through the CSPEC-Durham Data and Specimen Repository.

Study Chairs: Dawn Provenzale, MD, MS; Kelli Allen, PhD

Genetic Epidemiology of ALS in Veterans (CSP #500B)

The primary objective of this study is to identify the genetic factors and environmental exposures that influence the development of ALS in a Veteran population, using data from the ALS Registry and DNA Bank participants and healthy controls. Interested investigators may submit requests to access the data and/or specimens through the CSPEC-Durham Data and Specimen Repository.

Study Chairs: Dawn Provenzale, MD, MS; Kelli Allen, PhD; Michael Hauser, PhD