VA Gulf War Research Strategic Plan Revised DRAFT 2012Jan23

Pre-Decisional Draftpage 1January 23, 2012

DRAFTGULF WAR RESEARCH STRATEGIC PLAN2012-2016

Pre-Decisional Draftpage 2January 23, 2012Highlighted text in this pre-decisional draft refers to areas of responsibility outside ORD. These are draftthoughts about goals requiring further discussion.

TableofContents

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................. 52.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND........................................................................................................ 72.1 The 1990-1991 Gulf War and the Nation’s Response to the Need for Research........................72.2 Gulf War Research Strategic Plan 2012-2016............................................................................82.3 VA Research and Development Strategic Plan: 2009-2014........................................................83.0 EVOLUTION OF THE GULF WAR RESEARCH STRATEGIC PLAN.................................................................. 104.0 SUMMARY OFGULF WAR RESEARCH RESULTS AND PAST FEDERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT....................... 124.1 Summary of Federal Funding of Gulf War Research 1994-2010....................................................135.0 GULF WAR RESEARCH STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 20112-2016.................................................................... 145.1 Symptomatic and Specific Treatments .........................................................................................145.1.1 Goal ...............................................................................................................................145.1.2 IOM Recommendations..................................................................................................145.1.3 RACGWVI Recommendations .........................................................................................145.1.4 ORD Research.................................................................................................................155.1.5 Research Plans and Funding Mechanisms .........................................................................155.2 DATABASES AND CONTINUED SURVEILLANCE...........................................................................185.2.1 Goal ...............................................................................................................................185.2.2 IOM Recommendations..................................................................................................195.2.3 RACGWVI Recommendations .........................................................................................205.2.4 Existing Databases..........................................................................................................205.2.5 Ongoing VA Funded Projects ..........................................................................................225.2.6 Action Plans....................................................................................................................235.3 RESEARCH TO ENABLE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW GULF WAR CASE DEFINITIONS............................245.3.1 Goal......................................................................................................................................255.3.2. IOM Recommendations........................................................................................................265.3.3. RACGWVI Recommendations...............................................................................................265.3.4. VA ORD Previous Research Activities Related to Case Definitions.........................................26

Pre-Decisional Draftpage 3January 23, 20125.3.5. Plan for Establishing a Consensus Case Definition for Gulf War Multisymptom Illness..........275.4 GENETICS/GENOMICS/SYSTEMS BIOLOGY..............................................................................335.4.1 Goal ...............................................................................................................................335.4.2 IOM Recommendations..................................................................................................335.4.3 RACGWVI Recommendations .........................................................................................335.4.4 ORD Research.................................................................................................................335.4.5 Research Plans and Funding Mechanisms.......................................................................345.5 Biomarkers.............................................................................................................................385.5.1 Goal ...............................................................................................................................385.5.2 IOM Recommendations..................................................................................................395.5.3 RACGWVI Recommendations .........................................................................................395.5.4 ORD Research.................................................................................................................405.5.5 Research Plans..................................................................................................................415.6 Animal Models.......................................................................................................................445.6.1 Goal ...............................................................................................................................445.6.2 IOM Recommendations..................................................................................................445.6.3 RACGWVI Recommendations .........................................................................................445.6.4 ORD Research.................................................................................................................455.6.5 Research Plans..................................................................................................................455.7 IMPROVE COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS, RESEARCHERS ANDTHE PRIVATE SECTOR.........................................................................................................................465.7.1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................465.7.2. Inter-Governmental Coordination Efforts ......................................................................465.7.3 ORD Coordination Efforts Among Researchers................................................................485.7.4 Research, Goals and Action Plans...................................................................................485.8 TRANSLATE RESEARCH FINDINGS TO PRACTICE......................................................................535.8.1 Goal ...............................................................................................................................535.8.2 Research and Activities...................................................................................................535.8.3 Research and Action Plans - Funding Mechanisms ........................................................556.0 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 57Appendix I. Major Activities Involved in Linking Multiple Datasets into a Usable Interactive Database............... 58Appendix II. References.................................................................................................................................... 61