Research

Our research programs

VA Palo Alto health care has the second largest research program in VHA. The Research Administration Office is led by Dr. Jennifer Lee, Associate Chief of Staff for Research & Development.

The components of the VA Palo Alto health care research program include:

• Million Veteran Program (MVP)
• Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i)
• Health Economics Resource Center (HERC)
• VA Cooperative Studies Program (CSP)
• CSP Network of Dedicated Enrollments Sites (NODES)

And national VA programs, such as:

• Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)
• Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC / CoE)
• National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (NC-PTSD)
• War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC)
• Office of Public health Surveillance and Research (OPHSR)
• Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) Coordination Center

Research is conducted in the following areas: spinal cord injury, genomics, cooperative studies/clinical studies, diabetes, drug abuse, pain management, cancer, endocrinology, immunology, musculoskeletal, hypertension, dermatology, atherosclerosis, nephrology, bioterrorism, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hepatitis, ophthalmology, optometry, polytrauma, suicide prevention, vision rehabilitation and cardiology.

VA Palo Alto health care maintains a strong, cooperative affiliation with its non-profit corporation, Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research (PAVIR), and Stanford University.

Mentored research programs

VA Palo Alto health care offers mentored research experiences for early career staff through college students. Below is a list of our programs.

Leadership:

VA Palo Alto Summer Research Program

2025 program dates: June 23 - August 15, 2025

The VA Palo Alto Summer Research Program helps college students, including those from underrepresented groups like Veterans and individuals with disabilities, learn about research. The program is designed for students who are early in their academic journey and don't have much research experience yet, like those in community college. The goal is to inspire them to consider a career in research by introducing them to new research fields that they may not have considered previously. This program is one of 25 sites sponsored by VA's Office of Research and Development.

Program description: This 8-week paid internship program provides mentorship in research. The program helps students advance academically and in their careers, prepares them for graduate school, and allows them to connect with peers. Interns will work on a research project with their primary mentor and will present their research project at the end of the internship. They will also attend seminars to learn about research basics, gain track-specific knowledge, and get career development information. Throughout the program, interns will meet various research professionals who can serve as role models and share insights about careers in the Veterans Health Administration.

Program tracks: The program has two parallel tracks for students to choose from: one in Life Sciences and the other in Health Systems. Students can apply for the track they are interested in by clicking on the links provided below.

A. Life Sciences track: This track focuses on basic and translational research that aims to create a better understanding of diseases affecting Veterans and develop treatments. This track involves a full-time, in-person internship where students work 40 hours per week.

The 2025 Summer Internship Program is now open for applications for the Life Sciences track from November 15, 2024, to January 30, 2025.

If you have any questions about the Life Sciences track, feel free to reach out to srp@pavir.org.

B. Health Services track: This track focuses on research that enhances Veteran health by developing, testing, and applying interventions to improve how health care and related services are organized, delivered, and work for Veterans. This track involves a part-time virtual internship where students work around 18 hours per week.

Application information for the Health Services track internship will be available soon. For more details about this track, please reach out to vhapalci2ideiinternship@va.gov.

VISN 21 Early Career Award Program (ECAP)

The VISN 21 Early Career Award Program (ECAP) is intended to assist and enable junior investigators and investigators early in their research careers to successfully develop their research careers to make important positive impact on Veteran health and compete for further research funding.

This award provides 2 years of salary support for mentored research to highly qualified investigators with demonstrated abilities and plans.

Applicants must express a clear commitment to a VA career and VA research, VA institutional support for such commitment, and the mentorship support from at least one appropriately qualified VA mentor in VISN 21.

2025 Application Timeline:

• April 2025: Announce request for applications
• May 2025: Full applications due
• October 2025: Funding begins

Early Career Development Program (ECDP)

VA Palo Alto's 2-year Early Career Development Program (ECDP) is intended to assist and enable early stage/career clinician scientists and investigators in their VA careers at VA Palo Alto health care to successfully compete for further peer-reviewed, principal investigator-level research funding from VA, other federal or non-federal research grants, and contracts.

Clinicians (credentialed, with clinical privileges, and with active clinical duties at VA Palo Alto health care) are eligible to apply if they are VA Palo Alto-paid employees, working at least 6/8th of their time at VA Palo Alto health care, prior to October 1 or the start date of the ECDP award (whichever comes first).

2025 Application Timeline:

• April 2025: Announce request for applications
• May 2025: Full applications due
• October, 2025: Funding begins

Please contact Aman Kumar, Geoffrey Goodale, or Jennifer Lee with any questions on ECAP and ECDP.

Partnerships with local academic affiliates

VA Palo Alto health care partners with local academic affiliates at Stanford University, Foothill College, Mission College, and San Jose State University in offering mentored research experiences at our sites. These partnerships also include joint research symposia. More information about partnership opportunities with local academic affiliates will be posted when available.

Research studies

1. PEP-C study

Are you a Veteran who has been diagnosed with PTSD?

Would you be interested in starting a new course of treatment? You may be eligible to participate in our research study!

2. Treatment for Apnea and PTSD Study (TAPS)

Are you a Veteran who has been diagnosed with sleep apnea? Do you have PTSD? Have you tried using your CPAP machine before but could not get used to it? Do you want to try and start using it again? Our TAPS study researchers are studying two different types of treatment to help improve CPAP use for Veterans with obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD.

Watch our video

Eligible participants include:

• Male and female Veterans 18 years and older
• Have PTSD
• Sleep apnea diagnosis

Study participation includes:

• Phone screen to determine initial eligibility
• In-person screening visit
• Random assignment to one of the two treatment groups, either cognitive behavioral therapy or an education-based treatment
• Weekly attendance to individual treatment sessions for four weeks, then once every three months for a total of eight sessions over the course of a year

Compensation:

• Study participants will be reimbursed for their time and can earn up to $340 for completing all sessions. Additionally, a meal will be provided on the first screening and last final visit.

Don't wait until it is too late! If you think you or someone you know may be suffering from sleep apnea, contact your physician immediately. Seek treatment to avoid long-term or permanent damage. We can help! Call our study staff today at 650-849-0482.

Our VA research lab has been studying the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since 2004. TAPS is a newly funded, 5-year VA research program which aims to further clarify the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD.

Sleep apnea is the most common chronic illness in the United States.

• Studies show that 24% of males and 9% of females have sleep apnea, more than 30 million people in the United States.
• Our research shows that 83% of older Veterans with PTSD have at least mild obstructive sleep apnea.
• Over 50,000 deaths occur yearly due to sleep apnea related symptoms or injuries.
• Over half of all people with sleep apnea are 35 years old or older and overweight.
• 80-90% of affected people are undiagnosed and/or untreated.

What are some common symptoms?

• Snoring (affects 1 in 2 adults)
• Stop breathing when you sleep
• Sleepy throughout the day
• Large neck circumference
• Enlarged tongue

What are the risks of untreated sleep apnea?

• High blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease
• Memory problems
• Weight gain
• Diabetes
• Impotence
• Headaches
• Apathy
• Depression
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Job impairment
• Motor vehicle crashes

3. Assessing bone health after SCI study: Establishing evidence for a clinical protocol

VA Palo Alto’s Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders (SCI/D) Center is conducting a research study to improve the assessment of bone health of Veterans living with SCI/D. Currently, there is no standardized method for measuring bone health at the knee, a common fracture site for those with SCI/D; nor is there an available reference group of able-bodied people that can be used to gauge the bone health of a person with SCI/D.

Researchers at VA Palo Alto are currently conducting this study which will help inform evaluation of bone health for all Veterans. At this time, we are looking for volunteers who do not have a spinal cord injury or other disability for the reference database. Please see below for information about how you can participate in the study.

How healthy are your bones?

Did you know the health of your bones during your 20s and 30s predicts the health of your bones throughout your life?

Take part in a research study to assess bone health in people aged 20–39.

One visit to VA Palo Alto for a bone density scan
Earn $50 - $75 for participating
100 females & 100 males needed

For more information about the study, call 650-493-5000 ext. 69323.

4. Clinical care needs and experiences for patients with spinal cord injury identifying as LGBT study

VA Palo Alto’s Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders (SCI/D) Center is conducting an innovative research study to better understand the unique health care needs of Veterans living with SCI/D who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ+). This is the first study to explore the health care experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ+ Veterans with SCI/D.

You may be eligible if you:

• Are a Veteran
• Have an SCI for at least 6 months
• Self-identify as LGBTQ+
• Are 18 years of age or older

The study is open to all genders and any sexual orientation.

Your input can help to uncover strengths and weaknesses within the health care system, and contribute to making access to health care more welcoming and suited to your needs. There will be a stipend as an appreciation of your participation.

Time commitment:
Approximately 1 hour for a 1-on-1 phone interview plus completion of an online survey.

Your identity and other personal information will be kept confidential and maintained securely. We want to hear about your positive and negative experiences related to your health needs and seeking health care within the VA system.

If you would like more information or may be interested in participating, please contact our study coordinator at 650-493-5000 ext. 64479.

If you have any questions or concerns about participants' rights, contact 866-680-2906.

5. Technology, PTSD, and depression study

VA Palo Alto is inviting Veterans with symptoms of PTSD and depression to participate in a research study. This research study aims to understand your everyday experiences of mental health and functioning through the use of a smartphone and fitness tracker. You may earn up to $420 in Amazon e-gift cards for your participation.

If you would like more information or may be interested in participating, please contact us at 650-387-4116.

If you have any questions or concerns about participants' rights, contact 866-680-2906.