VA research during the COVID-19 pandemic
Overview
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, VA Research has undertaken a wide array of activities to support and advance VA’s clinical and research missions and help Veterans affected by the disease.
These efforts have focused on establishing and taking part in clinical trials and data analysis projects aimed at understanding and treating the disease. VA Research has coordinated closely with internal VA and external partners—such as other federal agencies, and pharmaceutical companies—to identify the areas in which VA’s nationwide research capacity, resources, and infrastructure could make the greatest contribution.
Rapid mobilization, innovative approaches
VA Research has taken these actions while working to ensure and promote the safety and well-being of all those involved in research. The program has also been enabling continuity of operations to the extent possible across the entire VA research portfolio, all of which is aimed at improving Veterans’ lives.
This page, we summarizes key COVID-19 research activities currently underway across the VA system, and provide background information on how the VA Office of Research and Development has rapidly mobilized the nationwide VA research community and resources to contribute to the national response to the pandemic. The information below is current as of June 3, 2020, and will be updated regularly.
Clinical trials
Testing prostate cancer drug—VA is funding a phase 2 clinical trial exploring whether degarelix, a treatment used in prostate cancer, may be effective reducing the time to improved clinical outcomes.
Trials with industry—VA is taking part in a number of industry-sponsored studies of promising medications for COVID-19. These include, for example, studies of the drug tocilizumab with Hoffman-La Roche, and sarilumab with Regeneron. Both drugs are used in arthritis care and block an inflammatory protein known as IL-6.
Remdesivir trial with NIH—VA sites are taking part in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of remdesivir and other medications for hospitalized patients with COVID-19, sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.
Observational studies
Natural history study—VA is collaborating with the Department of Defense on an observational, natural history study of COVID-19 illness titled “Epidemiology, Immunology and Clinical Characteristics of Emerging Infectious Diseases with Pandemic Potential” (EPICC-EID). The study will contribute to a better understanding of COVID-19.
Data analysis projects
Million Veteran Program—VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) has deployed a COVID-19 questionnaire to participants to collect information about their experience with COVID-19. In addition, MVP has prioritized a series of research questions to examine the genetic basis of infection by SARS CoV-2; complications of infection; disease severity and outcomes; and response to various medications. MVP will also seek to identify disease mechanisms and new treatment targets for COVID-19. Given MVP’s racially and ethnically diverse participant population (~ 20% African American and 7% Hispanic), the influence of race and ethnicity on disease susceptibility, severity, and outcomes will be an integral part of the analyses.
Synthesizing evidence from publications— Researchers from VA’s Evidence Synthesis Program are working with the World Health Organization and the VA RAPID/biosurveillance group to help synthesize publications about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, and to translate that information into usable guidance for clinicians. Recent ESP rapid reports in this area include: “Risk of Transmitting COVID-19 During Nebulizer Treatment”; “Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay and Ventilation Days”; and “Corticosteroid Therapy & ARDS for COVID-19 Infection.” More are in the works. These reports can be found at www.covid19reviews.org.
International collaboration—Researchers with the VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure team are participating in the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (or OHDSI, pronounced "Odyssey"
program, an international, interdisciplinary collaborative to maximize the value of health data through large-scale analytics.
Examining off-label use of existing approved drugs— Drugs that are already FDA-approved for other health conditions are being used to treat COVID-19. VA Research is contributing to the understanding of whether these drugs are safe and useful by helping to track data on prescriptions, side effects, and outcomes; and working with VHA Public Health Surveillance and Research and Pharmacy Benefits Management on longitudinal tracking of data on COVID-19 patients, including those prescribed off-label drugs.
Dementia patients—VA researchers in Providence have funding from the National Institute on Aging to study COVID-19 risk factors and outcomes among Veterans with dementia who live in VA community living centers.
Other research activities
Facilitating access to investigational drugs under the FDA’s expanded access, or “compassionate use,” program—VA Research has streamlined and organized a central assistance process for VA medical centers seeking expanded access (a.k.a. compassionate use) under FDA rules to investigational drugs for COVID-19 treatments. One treatment being used under this program is transfusions of blood plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19.
Doctor Mitchell tells me the VA has 50 million dollars granted by Congress for research, and this includes research regarding CBD. Doctor Mitchell does hope to get some of this money in the near future.
https://www.research.va.gov/covid-19.cfm
Overview
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, VA Research has undertaken a wide array of activities to support and advance VA’s clinical and research missions and help Veterans affected by the disease.
These efforts have focused on establishing and taking part in clinical trials and data analysis projects aimed at understanding and treating the disease. VA Research has coordinated closely with internal VA and external partners—such as other federal agencies, and pharmaceutical companies—to identify the areas in which VA’s nationwide research capacity, resources, and infrastructure could make the greatest contribution.
Rapid mobilization, innovative approaches
VA Research has taken these actions while working to ensure and promote the safety and well-being of all those involved in research. The program has also been enabling continuity of operations to the extent possible across the entire VA research portfolio, all of which is aimed at improving Veterans’ lives.
This page, we summarizes key COVID-19 research activities currently underway across the VA system, and provide background information on how the VA Office of Research and Development has rapidly mobilized the nationwide VA research community and resources to contribute to the national response to the pandemic. The information below is current as of June 3, 2020, and will be updated regularly.
Clinical trials
Testing prostate cancer drug—VA is funding a phase 2 clinical trial exploring whether degarelix, a treatment used in prostate cancer, may be effective reducing the time to improved clinical outcomes.
Trials with industry—VA is taking part in a number of industry-sponsored studies of promising medications for COVID-19. These include, for example, studies of the drug tocilizumab with Hoffman-La Roche, and sarilumab with Regeneron. Both drugs are used in arthritis care and block an inflammatory protein known as IL-6.
Remdesivir trial with NIH—VA sites are taking part in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of remdesivir and other medications for hospitalized patients with COVID-19, sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.
Observational studies
Natural history study—VA is collaborating with the Department of Defense on an observational, natural history study of COVID-19 illness titled “Epidemiology, Immunology and Clinical Characteristics of Emerging Infectious Diseases with Pandemic Potential” (EPICC-EID). The study will contribute to a better understanding of COVID-19.
Data analysis projects
Million Veteran Program—VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) has deployed a COVID-19 questionnaire to participants to collect information about their experience with COVID-19. In addition, MVP has prioritized a series of research questions to examine the genetic basis of infection by SARS CoV-2; complications of infection; disease severity and outcomes; and response to various medications. MVP will also seek to identify disease mechanisms and new treatment targets for COVID-19. Given MVP’s racially and ethnically diverse participant population (~ 20% African American and 7% Hispanic), the influence of race and ethnicity on disease susceptibility, severity, and outcomes will be an integral part of the analyses.
Synthesizing evidence from publications— Researchers from VA’s Evidence Synthesis Program are working with the World Health Organization and the VA RAPID/biosurveillance group to help synthesize publications about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, and to translate that information into usable guidance for clinicians. Recent ESP rapid reports in this area include: “Risk of Transmitting COVID-19 During Nebulizer Treatment”; “Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay and Ventilation Days”; and “Corticosteroid Therapy & ARDS for COVID-19 Infection.” More are in the works. These reports can be found at www.covid19reviews.org.
International collaboration—Researchers with the VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure team are participating in the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (or OHDSI, pronounced "Odyssey"
program, an international, interdisciplinary collaborative to maximize the value of health data through large-scale analytics. Examining off-label use of existing approved drugs— Drugs that are already FDA-approved for other health conditions are being used to treat COVID-19. VA Research is contributing to the understanding of whether these drugs are safe and useful by helping to track data on prescriptions, side effects, and outcomes; and working with VHA Public Health Surveillance and Research and Pharmacy Benefits Management on longitudinal tracking of data on COVID-19 patients, including those prescribed off-label drugs.
Dementia patients—VA researchers in Providence have funding from the National Institute on Aging to study COVID-19 risk factors and outcomes among Veterans with dementia who live in VA community living centers.
Other research activities
Facilitating access to investigational drugs under the FDA’s expanded access, or “compassionate use,” program—VA Research has streamlined and organized a central assistance process for VA medical centers seeking expanded access (a.k.a. compassionate use) under FDA rules to investigational drugs for COVID-19 treatments. One treatment being used under this program is transfusions of blood plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19.
Doctor Mitchell tells me the VA has 50 million dollars granted by Congress for research, and this includes research regarding CBD. Doctor Mitchell does hope to get some of this money in the near future.
https://www.research.va.gov/covid-19.cfm
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