NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Brief mindfulness training in VA primary care for Veterans

Official title: Type I Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of Primary Care Brief Mindfulness Training for Veterans

Funded at Syracuse VA Medical Center · NIH-11327299 · Data updated 2026-11-12

Four short mindfulness classes offered in VA primary care to help Veterans manage distress, anxiety, and improve overall well‑being.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSyracuse VA Medical Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Syracuse, United States)
Project startApril 1, 2024
Project endMarch 31, 2028
Funding year2026
NIH project number5I01HX003626-03
Project IDNIH-11327299 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Veterans who receive care in VA primary care and are experiencing psychological distress, anxiety, or related symptoms and who can attend four brief classes are ideal candidates.

Less likely to help

Veterans needing intensive psychiatric care, emergency/crisis services, or specialized therapy for severe mental illness may not benefit from brief mindfulness classes alone.

What this research studies

As a Veteran, you would be offered a series of four brief mindfulness classes delivered in your VA primary care clinic. The classes teach simple, practical mindfulness exercises for managing stress, anxiety, and everyday distress and are led by trained peers and Whole Health partners. The project is being run in real clinical settings so the team can see how the program works in routine VA care and what it takes to spread it to other clinics. Researchers will collect health and service-use information to understand effects on engagement, symptoms, and functioning.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce psychological distress, improve daily functioning, and increase access to evidence-based mental health support for Veterans.

How similar studies have gone: Preliminary VA studies of this Primary Care Brief Mindfulness Training showed reductions in psychological distress, but larger pragmatic trials are limited.

Where this research is happening

  • Syracuse VA Medical Center
    Syracuse, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Possemato, Kyle — Syracuse VA Medical Center
  • Study coordinator: Possemato, Kyle

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Mindfulness training for veterans in primary care settings

    This study is looking at how short mindfulness training programs can help veterans feel better and cope with stress in their everyday lives while visiting their primary care doctors.

    NIH research Syracuse VA Medical Center · Syracuse, United States · NIH-11084288

  • Mindfulness treatment for chronic low back pain in primary care settings

    This study is testing a mindfulness program called OPTIMUM to see if it can help people with chronic low back pain manage their pain better without using medications, and it's designed for patients visiting their primary care doctors.

    NIH research Boston Medical Center · Boston, United States · NIH-10694862

  • HEARTS hypertension and diabetes care in Guatemala

    This grant tests how well the HEARTS primary care model works in Guatemala to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for patients.

    NIH research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, United States · NIH-11645315

  • Primary Care HEART-NET: boosting access to research in the Deep South

    A collaboration across three universities will build primary care research networks in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi to improve access to care and help prevent and manage chronic diseases.

    NIH research University of Alabama at Birmingham · Birmingham, United States · NIH-11618658

  • Primary Care Bridge: Building Research in Diverse Geographic Settings

    A national network hub in New Mexico will connect rural clinics and communities to faster, more usable primary care research so patients in underserved areas can benefit from new evidence.

    NIH research University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · Albuquerque, United States · NIH-11618652

  • WREN: Expanding Research Capacity in Rural Primary Care Clinics

    A nationwide network in Wisconsin will strengthen rural primary care clinics to participate in real-world research and bring more clinical trials to communities.

    NIH research University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, United States · NIH-11618649

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.