VA SHIELD: What’s the Latest?
The global COVID pandemic shed new light on much-needed areas in emerging infectious disease research, one of which was a need for larger and expanded areas of biorepositories.
Answering that call is the Veterans Affairs Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-Threatening Diseases (VA SHIELD), which is described on its website as a “a comprehensive, secure biorepository of specimens and associated data,” for authorized VA researchers, and some collaborators, “to advance scientific understanding in support of developing diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative strategies for use in clinical care.”
During a recently held talk on VA SHIELD at ID Week 2024, Dr. Lauren Epstein, who is with Atlanta Veterans Affairs Healthcare System , updated the audience in attendance on VA SHIELD’s progress since its inception, in the fall of 2020. Dr. Epstein was part of a panel of VA medical professional from around the country.
“I think it's really exciting because it utilizes the strength of the VA, which is that you have a lot of investigators, people who are passionate about making a difference and people that are committed to working with veterans,” Epstein said in an interview with ImPACT after the meeting.
Epstein noted that VA SHIELD is designed to create a comprehensive repository that can have an impact on learning about the next emerging infection. Currently, VA SHIELD has more than 50,000 specimens collected, including COVID, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and Mpox. Coordinators at each site direct specimen collection, and the type of research based on a vetting process.
The strength of this type of collection, Epstein added, is the potential to conduct “longitudinal sampling. You can do a specific data and specimen collection you wouldn't necessarily be able to do just with discarded specimens.”
At ID Week, Epstein discussed the vector-borne awareness work group’s use of these data, which created an interactive database regarding rare infectious diseases leveraging ICD codes. She added she was excited to see the potential for several other projects as well, including one that is looking at antimicrobial resistant patterns, particularly among Clostridum difficile.
She noted during the discussion that VA SHIELD was borne out of COVID, noting the pandemic “made a space for it to come together. “I think there was this recognition that this needs to be done, and we need to have this kind of coordinated system,” Epstein said.
Since its inception, 12 collection sites; 2 central biorepositories, and coordinating centers and data hubs have been established across the United States.
According to the VA Shield website: “clinical laboratory staff with relevant specimens..who are willing to be poised to participate in VA SHIELD are strongly encouraged to contact the national office at VASHIELD@va.gov to initiate training and assess readiness.” Site readiness criteria that the website lists include “support from site-local research and development committees, support from site leadership and personnel, local site budgeting, equipment, and consumable needs, and capacity to support information management systems.”
According to information on the website, VA SHIELD’s general priority is to develop a comprehensive repository providing access to researchers according to their needs and in line with VA ORD strategic priorities. This includes:
• Increase Veterans access to high-quality clinical trials
• Increase the substantial real-world impact of VA research
• Put VA data to work for veterans
• Actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within our sphere of influence
• Build community through VA research
For more visit: https://www.research.va.gov/currents/0923-VA-Further-Develops-Its-Central-Biorepository-VA-SHIELD.cfm