How COVID-19 changed healthcare for veterans with spinal cord injuries
Official title: Disruption of Health Services: The Impact of COVID-19 on Veterans with SCI/D
Funded at James J Peters VA Medical Center · NIH-11333513 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health services and affected outcomes for veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | James J Peters VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003569-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333513 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are veterans with spinal cord injury or disorders who received care through the Veterans Health Administration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
✕Less likely to help
People without spinal cord injuries, non-veterans, or veterans who did not use VA services during the pandemic are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will combine VHA medical records with interviews and surveys of veterans, caregivers, and providers to learn how clinic closures, service interruptions, and social distancing affected care like wheelchair repair, bowel and bladder management, and home-based services. They will analyze numbers such as COVID infections, clinic visits, and mortality alongside personal stories to understand physical and mental health impacts. The team will examine patient-, community-, and system-level factors to identify where services broke down or adapted. Findings will be used to recommend changes to VA planning and resource allocation for veterans with SCI/D.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help the VA improve access to essential services and reduce harm for veterans with spinal cord injuries during future pandemics or system disruptions.
How similar studies have gone: Some research has shown pandemic-related harms for people with disabilities, but few studies have focused specifically on veterans with SCI/D, so this work addresses a relatively understudied area.
Where this research is happening
-
James J Peters VA Medical Center
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Galea, Marinella — James J Peters VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Galea, Marinella
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.