#Middlebury #Veterans #MillionVeteranResearchProgram
VETERANS POST
By Freddy Groves
The Department of Veterans Affairs has now taken the DNA from 1 million veterans in their Million Veteran Program. The MVP research project is the first anywhere to study the health and genetic data of the veterans for the purpose of learning more and providing better care to current and future generations. So far the projects they’ve researched include diabetes, PTSD, kidney disease, cancer, Gulf War illness and more.
Joining the program is easy: Fill out the consent forms and give permission for the program to get into your health records, provide a blood sample (mail it in or have it drawn at an MVP facility), and complete all the surveys that cover lifestyle, health and exposures. Then you’re in.
To be considered:
- The information you provide will be kept indefinitely.
- No information from the research will be placed in your health record, which means that if the blood screening or anything else turns up an illness, you won’t be told. The research is for the benefit of current and future generations, not individuals.
To learn more about the program, see www.mvp.va.gov/pwa. You’ll be able to read the 300-plus scientific publications and sign up for the research updates. Be sure to scroll down the FAQ for answers to a lot of questions before you consider signing up. Look for the links that access a map showing all the MVP clinic locations.
You’ll only need to go in one time, unless in the future you agree to join other avenues of research, in which case additional consent would be needed. Take a long look at the drop-down section titled “Confidentiality, Privacy, and Security” to see how your DNA and health information will be secured and who else will be allowed access.
You also can call MVP with questions at 866-441-6075 or send an email to AskMVP@va.gov. If you don’t have (or don’t want to use) the internet to join the project or sign the consent forms, you can still arrange an in-person meeting to give your permission.
© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
