Rocky C
05-05-11, 02:23 PM
The Million Veteran Program: VA's Genomics Game-Changer Launches
Nationwide
WASHINGTON (May 5, 2011) - An unprecedented Veterans Affairs (VA)
research program that promises to advance the sophisticated science of
genomics goes national today.
"It is my honor," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki,
"to join with so many fellow Veterans in keeping VA at the leading edge
of genomics research. This innovative research program will support
VA's mission to provide Veterans and their families with the care they
have earned."
Dr. Robert A. Petzel, VA's Under Secretary for Health said, "The
Veterans Affairs Research and Development Program has launched the
Million Veteran Program, or MVP-an important partnership between VA and
Veterans to learn more about how genes affect health, and thus,
transform health care for Veterans and for all Americans."
The Million Veteran Program is a trailblazing VA effort to consolidate
genetic, military exposure, health, and lifestyle information together
in one single database. The database will be used only by authorized
researchers with VA, other federal health agencies, and academic
institutions within the U.S.-in a secure manner-to conduct health and
wellness studies to determine which genetic variations are associated
with particular health issues. By identifying gene-health connections,
the program could consequentially advance disease screening, diagnosis,
and prognosis and point the way toward more effective, personalized
therapies.
Launched in January at a single VA medical center, MVP is expanding to
achieve the goal of national participation by Veterans receiving VA care
over the next 5 to 7 years. Among those participating are VA Secretary
Eric K. Shinseki, Deputy Secretary W. Scott Gould, and Chief of Staff
John R. Gingrich.
Patient safety and information security are the top priorities in MVP
and all VA research initiatives. To protect Veterans' confidentiality,
blood samples containing genetic material and health information
collected for MVP will be stored in a secure manner and labeled with a
barcode instead of personal information. The researchers who are
approved to access samples and data will not receive the name, address,
social security number or date of birth of participating Veterans.
Importantly, the data will not move to the researchers, but rather
researchers will come to the data-through the VA GenISIS computing
environment-to increase security.
The program has been developed in close coordination with the VA Genomic
Medicine Program Advisory Committee-comprised of private and public
health, scientific, legal experts in the field of genetics and Veteran
representatives-which advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and
partners such as Veterans Service Organizations, the Department of
Defense, and the National Institutes of Health.
VA is superbly positioned to conduct complex genomics research thanks to
its large, diverse, and altruistic patient population and other
unrivaled assets. "We have a research establishment that is embedded in
an integrated health care system with a state-of-the-art electronic
health record, fully equipped genomic laboratories with the latest in
technology, and top-caliber investigators-most of whom also provide
direct patient care," said Dr. Joel Kupersmith, VA's chief research and
development officer. "The merger of these distinct attributes-with the
Veteran as a partner-make VA uniquely able to conduct this ground
breaking genomic research."
By enabling researchers to analyze and compare the DNA and other genetic
materials of a population of Veterans potentially a million-strong, MVP
represents a powerful tool in genetics research.
Nationwide
WASHINGTON (May 5, 2011) - An unprecedented Veterans Affairs (VA)
research program that promises to advance the sophisticated science of
genomics goes national today.
"It is my honor," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki,
"to join with so many fellow Veterans in keeping VA at the leading edge
of genomics research. This innovative research program will support
VA's mission to provide Veterans and their families with the care they
have earned."
Dr. Robert A. Petzel, VA's Under Secretary for Health said, "The
Veterans Affairs Research and Development Program has launched the
Million Veteran Program, or MVP-an important partnership between VA and
Veterans to learn more about how genes affect health, and thus,
transform health care for Veterans and for all Americans."
The Million Veteran Program is a trailblazing VA effort to consolidate
genetic, military exposure, health, and lifestyle information together
in one single database. The database will be used only by authorized
researchers with VA, other federal health agencies, and academic
institutions within the U.S.-in a secure manner-to conduct health and
wellness studies to determine which genetic variations are associated
with particular health issues. By identifying gene-health connections,
the program could consequentially advance disease screening, diagnosis,
and prognosis and point the way toward more effective, personalized
therapies.
Launched in January at a single VA medical center, MVP is expanding to
achieve the goal of national participation by Veterans receiving VA care
over the next 5 to 7 years. Among those participating are VA Secretary
Eric K. Shinseki, Deputy Secretary W. Scott Gould, and Chief of Staff
John R. Gingrich.
Patient safety and information security are the top priorities in MVP
and all VA research initiatives. To protect Veterans' confidentiality,
blood samples containing genetic material and health information
collected for MVP will be stored in a secure manner and labeled with a
barcode instead of personal information. The researchers who are
approved to access samples and data will not receive the name, address,
social security number or date of birth of participating Veterans.
Importantly, the data will not move to the researchers, but rather
researchers will come to the data-through the VA GenISIS computing
environment-to increase security.
The program has been developed in close coordination with the VA Genomic
Medicine Program Advisory Committee-comprised of private and public
health, scientific, legal experts in the field of genetics and Veteran
representatives-which advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and
partners such as Veterans Service Organizations, the Department of
Defense, and the National Institutes of Health.
VA is superbly positioned to conduct complex genomics research thanks to
its large, diverse, and altruistic patient population and other
unrivaled assets. "We have a research establishment that is embedded in
an integrated health care system with a state-of-the-art electronic
health record, fully equipped genomic laboratories with the latest in
technology, and top-caliber investigators-most of whom also provide
direct patient care," said Dr. Joel Kupersmith, VA's chief research and
development officer. "The merger of these distinct attributes-with the
Veteran as a partner-make VA uniquely able to conduct this ground
breaking genomic research."
By enabling researchers to analyze and compare the DNA and other genetic
materials of a population of Veterans potentially a million-strong, MVP
represents a powerful tool in genetics research.