Military Service–Linked ALS Risk in U.S. Veterans
Official title: Military Service-Associated ALS Risk Factor Study Among U.S. Veterans
Funded at Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res · NIH-11565245 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant investigates why U.S. veterans get ALS more often, by studying military exposures and health records to identify potential risk factors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2026 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $298,151 |
| NIH project number | 1U01TS000354-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11565245 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans who served in the military and may eventually develop or have ALS could be relevant, especially those with exposure histories.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without military exposure history or ALS are less likely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project uses VA health data to compare veterans with ALS to similar veterans without ALS, looking at exposures like burn pits, herbicides, and brain injuries. Researchers will link large health and exposure datasets to create the largest records-based study of military ALS risk factors. The aim is to clarify how service-related factors may contribute to ALS and to identify possible high-risk groups for future prevention efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding military-related factors that increase ALS risk could lead to better prevention and earlier identification for veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies were small; this effort aims to provide a much larger, more definitive analysis using linked records.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Howard, Ileana — Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res
- Study coordinator: Howard, Ileana
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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.