Columbia VA Research Week event highlights future of Veteran care, medical innovation
By Scott Perez, Visual Information Specialist
Columbia VA and Charleston VA Health Care Systems held a joint Research Week program on May 21, 2026, bringing together investigators, medical leaders, staff, and research partners for a full day of presentations, collaboration, and scientific exchange.
This year's theme, “Launching into the Future of Veterans’ Care,” follows the 2025 celebration of the centennial anniversary of VA Research and shifts the focus toward the next century of medical discovery, innovation, and clinical advancement.
The program opened with remarks from Dr. Michael Ryan, Columbia VA Chief of Research, and Dr. Mandy LaRue, Charleston VA Chief of Research, followed by welcomes from Jeffery Soots, Columbia VA Executive Director, and Dr. James McCallum, Columbia VA Chief of Staff.
Ryan said the event reflected both the strength of VA research and the importance of collaboration across institutions.
“The 2026 Research Week event was a big success,” Ryan said. “We had great attendance to match the great science that was presented. I am grateful to our colleagues in Charleston for collaborating on our second annual joint conference. I am also grateful for the support from our executive leadership and numerous services across the hospital, as well as a fantastic Columbia research team. There is a clear understanding of the value that biomedical science brings to improving Veteran health in Columbia, SC.”
Dr. Francis G. Spinale, Columbia VA Staff Physician and a Professor of Personalized Medicine in the Departments of Cell Biology, Anatomy, and Surgery at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, served as the keynote speaker. His presentation, “Clinical and Translational Research: Strengthening the USC and VA Partnership,” focused on the importance of connecting scientific discovery with real-world improvements in patient care.
Spinale's work has focused heavily on cardiovascular translational research, heart failure, and building research programs that connect physicians and scientists in pursuit of new diagnostics and therapies.
Poster presentations later in the day allowed researchers to share studies tied directly to Veteran health, clinical improvement, and emerging science.
Among the many research topics presented was “Diabetes-Related Extremity Amputation Depression & Distress,” a study by Dr. Brandon M. Brooks, Columbia VA Physician. The study examined the psychological impact of nontraumatic, minor amputations in patients with type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that 90% of patients in a retrospective cohort had higher depression screening scores within 30 days after amputation, highlighting the emotional and mental health impact that can accompany diabetes-related limb loss.
Another submitted topic, “Exosome-Based Targeted Therapeutics Approaches for Advanced Cancers,” presented by Dr. Deepak Bhere, Columbia VA Research Health Science Specialist, explored the use of exosomes, small membrane-bound vesicles involved in cell-to-cell communication, as a potential platform for targeted cancer therapies. The research examined how biologically based carriers may help deliver therapeutic material more precisely against difficult-to-treat cancers.
Other poster topics included semaglutide management in patients with type 2 diabetes, antibiotic stewardship for diabetic foot infections, blood pressure outreach in rural communities, osteoporosis medication monitoring, prostate cancer validation in a national cohort of male Veterans with type 2 diabetes, and high-reliability organization principles tied to workforce well-being.
VA Research has long played a central role in translating scientific discovery into practical solutions for Veterans and the broader American public. While researchers often look toward the future, their work also focuses on improving health care delivery, evaluating current practices, and developing solutions that can improve outcomes for Veterans today.
Through Research Week, VA facilities nationwide recognize the investigators, clinicians, staff, and partners whose work continues to move Veteran care forward, one question, one study, and one discovery at a time.