Research & Development - US Department of Veterans Affairs

09/15/2026

VA Initiative Gives Rural Veterans Faster Answers on a Suspicious Lung Nodule

A Minneapolis VA Health Care System team folded community-care lung cancer screening back into VA’s centralized program, so a suspicious spot found close to home no longer disappears into a follow-up gap.



https://www.research.va.gov/currents/0826-VA-Initiative-Gives-Rural-Veterans-Faster-Answers-on-a-Suspicious-Lung-Nodule.cfm

09/14/2026

: Combined treatment may be more effective against skin cancer

(09/11/2026) Researchers from the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago showed combining the cancer medication Pembrolizumab with the enzyme Arylsulfatase B could improve treatment response in melanoma. Using a mouse model, the researchers found the combined treatment increased programmed death of cancer cells and lowered tumor invasiveness. The medication and enzyme work on different aspects of tumors, one enhancing immune cell response and the other affecting molecular signaling within cancer cells. The two substances appear to work synergistically to inhibit the progression of melanoma and could improve treatment outcomes when used together. (Frontiers in Oncology, June 1, 2026)

Chicago VA Medical Center

09/11/2026

: Peer-led program improves PTSD treatment engagement

A peer-led psychoeducation group improved treatment engagement and mental health symptoms in Veterans with . Syracuse VA Medical Center researchers implemented PTSD101 in a VA PTSD specialty clinic to address Veterans' reluctance to begin trauma-focused therapy. The structured group program consisted of seven 90-minute sessions covering civilian readjustment; effects of trauma; trust, safety, and self-care; coping and healing; survival strategies and relationships; substance use and medication; and PTSD treatment. Veterans who participated in the group program were more likely to begin new evidence-based PTSD treatments and also showed significant improvements in PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and illness management strategies. The findings suggest peer-led group education classes could help engage Veterans with PTSD who are wary of trauma-focused therapy. (Psychological Services, Aug. 6, 2026)

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258466

09/10/2026

Veterans who have joined the Million Veteran Program are helping improve care for all Veterans.

We combine genetic information with health data to better understand disease, find risks, and inform more personalized care.

Learn more or join today at www.mvp.va.gov or call 866-441-6075.

09/09/2026

: Service dogs have calming effect on Veterans with PTSD
Researchers from the National Center for PTSD demonstrated that the presence of a service dog reduced physical stress responses to loud noises in Veterans with PTSD. Veterans in residential treatment for PTSD and participating in a service dog training program were exposed to loud, unpleasant sounds over four to six weekly sessions, with their service dogs being present half the time. Having the dog nearby led to smaller heart rate and sweating changes in Veterans with hyperarousal symptoms, suggesting the dogs had a passive calming effect. The service dogs also helped Veterans recover from and get used to the loud noises faster. The results suggested service dogs can help regulate physical stress levels in Veterans with PTSD in addition to calming emotional distress. (Psychophysiology, Aug. 27, 2026)

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258465

09/09/2026

VA researchers Drs. Felicia Skelton and Hilary Touchett received awards for their outstanding contributions to improving the health and care of Veterans with spinal cord injury and disease. VA is the largest healthcare system in the world to provide lifelong spinal cord care, serving approximately 27,000 Veterans annually.

Awards & Honors

09/08/2026

: New hydrogel could improve wound healing

Philadelphia VA Medical Center researchers developed a new hydrogel that could improve wound healing by making it easier to control the release of medication within the body. Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels can promote soft tissue wound healing by delivering medications and cell therapies directly into the injury, but it is difficult to control the speed at which these treatments are released in the body. The researchers attached a protein called streptavidin to a hydrogel, which binds to the vitamin biotin and allows for the encapsulation and controlled release of medication. This technique allowed researchers to tailor the speed of medication release and to deliver different treatments during separate stages of healing. Streptavidin-infused hydrogels are a promising new platform to promote tissue regeneration and improve wound healing. (Acta Biomaterialia, September 2026)

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258464

09/04/2026

: Pilot program boosts Veterans' access to pelvic health rehabilitation

Pelvic floor disorders can result in pain, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction, so VA researchers created a mentorship program and a virtual Care Navigator program to increase direct pelvic health rehabilitation access for Veterans. Between 2022 and 2025, the program trained 38 mentees, who collectively served almost 23,000 Veterans. Veterans interviewed at two pilot Care Navigator sites in rural communities reported symptom improvement and high satisfaction with the rehabilitation they received. The results show this project bolstered the capacity for specialized pelvic health rehabilitation within VA and increased access for rural Veterans without the need to hire new staff. Future work will focus on expanding the program to reach even more Veterans.
https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258461

09/02/2026

: Inorganic dust exposure increases sarcoidosis risk

In the largest ever study of sarcoidosis among Veterans, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System researchers found those exposed to high levels of inorganic dust during their military service had an increased risk for this normally rare inflammatory disease. Sarcoidosis causes lumps called granulomas to appear across the body, including in the lungs, which can cause a persistent dry cough, extreme fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and more. In an analysis of more than 35,000 Veterans, those with military occupational exposure to inorganic dust had 8% higher odds of developing sarcoidosis. The risk appeared to peak two to five years after military separation, suggesting granulomas take time to form as the body adapts to dust exposure. The findings highlight the continued need to address military exposure to airborne toxins and monitor the health of Veterans at higher risk of exposure-linked conditions.

https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258460

08/31/2026

: Alcohol increases hunger, disrupts processing of sugar
VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System researchers found exposing stomach and pancreas cells to alcohol increases secretion of the hunger hormone ghrelin and related biological processes. Excess ghrelin also impairs the cells' ability to sense and process glucose, which can lead to harmful fat accumulation in the liver. Targeting these metabolic pathways has potential as a new treatment strategy for the interconnected conditions of alcohol use disorder and alcohol-associated liver disease.
https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/news_brief.cfm?RecordID=258459