APPENDIX C: Other Research Efforts

Persian Gulf Veterans Coordinating Board Research

DoD Research Activities

Review of the Health Consequences of Service During the Persian Gulf War.
Action: National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - Medical Follow-up Agency
Purpose: As directed by P.L. 102-585, the NAS will review existing scientific, medical and other information on the health consequences of military service in the Persian Gulf theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.
Coordinations: DoD, VA and HHS.

Cooperative DoD/VA Research.
Action: DoD and VA Medical Scientists.
Purpose: Support for partial funding of research on the health consequences of exposure to environmental hazards during the Persian Gulf War. Some of this research will take place at VA Medical Centers. Coordination: DoD, VA and HHS.

Leishmania Research.
Action: US Army Medical Research and Development Command.
Purpose: Develop a blood assay for leishmania.
Coordinations: DoD, VA and HHS.

Epidemiologic Assessment of Suspected Outbreak of an Unknown Disease Among Veterans of ODS at the Request of the 123d Army Reserve Command, FT. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.
Action: US Army Medical Research and Development Command.
Purpose: Conducted medical examinations and in-depth surveys of 79 soldiers with symptoms or concerns potentially linked to service in ODS.
Coordinations: DoD, VA and HHS.

Stress-Related Survey of Soldiers Deployed in ODS.
Action: US Army Medical Research and Development Command.
Purpose: To identify correlations between post ODS symptoms and occupational and environmental stresses. These questionnaires were completed by active duty and reserve Army, Navy and Air Force personnel in Hawaii and Pennsylvania. Data analysis is in progress.
Coordinations: DoD, VA and HHS.

Retrospective Studies Involving Military Use of Pyridostigmine as a Pretreatment for Nerve Agent Poisoning.
Action: US Army Medical Research and Development Command.
Purpose: Obtain safety data for pending New Drug Application to FDA.
Coordinations: DoD, FDA and VA.

Retrospective Survey of Troops Who Received Clostridium Botulinum Toxoid in the Gulf War.
Action: US Army Medical Research and Development Command.
Purpose: To conduct a retrospective survey of troops who received clostridium botulinum toxoid in the Gulf War after troops returned to the US.
Coordinations: DoD, VA and HHS.

Environmental Toxicology Studies.
Action: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Army Environmental Hygiene Agency.
Purpose: To conduct a series of studies in environmental and toxicologic pathology relating to exposures during the Persian Gulf War.
Coordinations: DoD, VA and HHS.

Monitoring Gulf War Veterans With Imbedded Depleted Uranium Fragments.
Action: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute.
Purpose: Conduct clinical follow-up of ODS patients with known or suspected imbedded depleted uranium fragments and assess health risks from imbedded depleted uranium fragments.
Coordinations: DoD, VA and HHS.

Working Group to Establish a Working "Case Definition" for Post-ODS/DS Unexplained Illness.
Action: Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Purpose: Review and analyze medical records of ODS/DS veterans with unexplained symptoms to establish a working "case definition" for post-ODS/DS unexplained illness.
Coordinations: DoD, VA and HHS.

VA Research Activities

Children of PG Veterans in Mississippi.
Action: VAMC Jackson.
Purpose: An examination of children born to Persian Gulf veterans for evidence of possible genetically determined health effects related to their parents' service.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Review of the Health Consequences of Service During the Persian Gulf War.
Action: National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - Medical Follow-up Agency
Purpose: As directed by P.L. 102-585, the NAS will review existing scientific, medical and other information on the health consequences of military service in the Persian Gulf theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Pilot Program to Investigate Medical and Psychological Effects of Exposure to Toxic Hazards.
Action: VAMC Birmingham.
Purpose: Conduct pilot program to investigate medical and psychological effects of exposure to toxic hazards. Results of examinations provided to about 11,000 veterans on VA's PG Registry are also being reviewed to determine if these individuals should be called back for testing.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Examining Neuropsychological-Psychological Profiles of Veterans Returning from the Persian Gulf Theater.
Action: VAMC Boston.
Purpose: Conduct a small-scale pilot program examining neuropsychological-psychological profiles of veterans returning from the Persian Gulf Theater.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Environmental Hazards Research Centers.
Action: Three VAMCs (to be determined).
Purpose: A request for proposals to establish up to three, VA-based, research centers for the study of the medical consequences of exposure to environmental and toxic hazards, initially focused on the problems cited by personnel in the PG conflict.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Persian Gulf Interagency Research Coordinating Council.
Action: VA, DoD and HHS.
Purpose: VA, DoD and HHS, make up the newly formed Persian Gulf Interagency Research Coordinating Council. The council, established by the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act, will coordinate all research activities undertaken or funded by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government on the health consequences of military service in the Persian Gulf theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. As an initial step, the council members agreed to organize a conference of experts from within and outside the federal agencies, with a goal of reaching a consensus definition of "Persian Gulf Syndrome."
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Persian Gulf Advisory Committee.
Action: VA.
Purpose: A 16 member panel composed of experts in environmental and occupational medicine and related fields from both government and the private sector and representatives from veterans service organizations chartered to address issues related to the diagnosis, treatment and research of PG related health conditions.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Investigation of the Relation Between the Experience of ODS and Post-War Adjustment.
Action: VAMC Clarksburg.
Purpose: Assess difficulties in post-war adjustment among ODS soldiers.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Early Intervention with Appalachian Marine Reservists in ODS.
Action: VAMC Mountain Home, TN.
Purpose: To provide an early intervention debriefing to Marine reservists about the stresses of deployment and combat. Follow-up contacts and tests indicated a high degree of PTSD.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Desert Storm Reunion Survey.
Action: VAMC Boston.
Purpose: Study a broad range of combat and non-combat experiences associated with deployment during ODS. The study will delineate and quantify those experiences and determine their impact on subsequent patterns of adjustment.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Psychological Assessment of Operation Desert Storm Returnees.
Action: VAMC New Orleans.
Purpose: Conduct comprehensive psychological assessments and debriefings of troops mobilized in ODS.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Operation Desert Storm Follow-Up Survey.
Action: VAMC Salt Lake City.
Purpose: A survey designed to elicit VA medical center employees perceptions of ODS activation, deployment, and reintegration experiences.
Coordinations: VA, DoD and HHS.

Psychological Adjustment in ODS Veterans.
Action: VAMC Gainesville.
Purpose: A study of 542 National Guard and Reserve members was conducted with one group being actively involved in ODS and a Control group. Psychological tests were given to determine if differences existed between the service veterans and the control group in terms of overall mental health.
Coordinations: VA, DOD and HHS