Training program for Veterans and military-connected students in mental health research
Official title: Service to Science Scholars Research Program
Funded at Minneapolis VA Medical Center · NIH-11050426 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program invites Veterans and their children to join a friendly summer research experience where students can learn about mental health issues like PTSD and suicide prevention, while also helping to create better support services based on real-life experiences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Minneapolis VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 1I01BX006995-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11050426 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this program are student Veterans and military-connected students interested in pursuing careers in mental health research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Veterans or military-connected and do not have an interest in research may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
This program aims to engage Veterans and children of Veterans in scientific research to address complex mental health issues like suicide prevention and PTSD. It offers a 10-week summer research experience for undergraduate and graduate students, focusing on enhancing the diversity of the research workforce in the VA. Participants will receive training and mentorship, allowing them to contribute to the development of new mental health services based on lived experiences. The program has previously shown high satisfaction among participants and successful recruitment from underrepresented groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research program could lead to improved mental health services for Veterans and their families by incorporating diverse perspectives in research.
How similar studies have gone: Previous iterations of this program have shown success in engaging participants and enhancing their research careers, indicating a positive track record.
Where this research is happening
-
Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Polusny, Melissa a. — Minneapolis VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Polusny, Melissa a.
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.