Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence
VA Research Helps Veterans with Multiple Sclerosis
VA ranks as one of the nation’s leaders in health research. Thousands of studies are conducted at VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes each year. This research has significantly contributed to advancements in health care for Veterans and other Americans from every walk of life. VA’s multiple sclerosis (MS) research directly helps Veterans with MS in many practical ways.
Types of MSCoE Research
MSCoE does four main types of MS research:
- Lab Research - Scientists study how MS affects the body, looking for new ways to treat the disease
- Clinical Research - Doctors test new treatments on people with MS, helping to manage the disease and daily symptoms
- Population Studies - Researchers look at how many people get MS and why
- Healthcare Studies - They find better ways to care for people with MS
Why This Research Works Well
Working Together - VA hospitals and clinics across the country team up on research projects. This means more Veterans can join studies, and researchers can learn faster.
Training New Researchers - MSCoE helps young scientists learn how to do MS research. They guide them through getting grants and funding for their work and designing a study.
Money for Research - MSCoE gets funding from several places, including:
- VA's own research budget
- National Institutes of Health
- MS, charitable, and military-service organizations
- Private companies
Some research doesn't need funding and happens through volunteers and partnerships.
Sharing What We Learn
Researchers make sure their discoveries reach the people who need them:
- Medical Journals - Publishing studies so other doctors can read them
- Conferences - Presenting findings to other scientists and doctors
- Practice Guidelines - Creating step-by-step instructions for VA doctors to follow
- Summaries - Shorter versions of results that are easier to understand
How This Helps People
VA research focuses on real-life problems that Veterans with MS deal with every day, and the solutions help improve their care at VA medical facilities. It also helps other Americans who have MS, not just Veterans. Veterans with MS can join research studies. To learn about participating in a research study, visit MS Research and You.
