VA BIC: A Suicide Prevention Program for Veterans
Official title: CSRD Research Career Development Transition Award Application
Funded at White River Junction VA Medical Center · NIH-11615902 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A VA psychiatrist is applying for a career development award to expand and test a proven support program designed to prevent suicide among veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | White River Junction VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (White River Junction, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | October 1, 2025 |
| Project end | September 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5IK4CX003031-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11615902 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans and active-duty military members at risk of suicide and their social networks who can participate in the program.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not experiencing elevated suicide risk or those unable to participate in follow-up contacts may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant centers on advancing a clinician-researcher’s career to implement and study a suicide prevention program tailored for Veterans. The approach adapts the Brief Intervention and Contact (BIC) strategy for Veteran populations, aiming to reduce suicidal thoughts and improve connections to care. The work will build from pilot data showing VA BIC may boost ideation, social ties, and treatment engagement, and it plans to rigorously evaluate its impact in a US Veteran setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, VA BIC could become a scalable, low-burden way to reduce suicide risk and improve care engagement for Veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Prior BIC trials in other populations showed reduced suicide risk, but VA-specific adaptation is novel and pilot data are promising.
Where this research is happening
-
White River Junction VA Medical Center
White River Junction, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Riblet, Natalie — White River Junction VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Riblet, Natalie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Deciding when to stop yearly CT scans after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm
This project compares keeping yearly CT scans versus less frequent imaging to help Veterans who had endovascular aortic aneurysm repair avoid unnecessary risks.
-
Suicide prevention help for Veterans using VA community care
A program called VA BIC aims to reduce suicide risk among Veterans who receive mental health care outside VA facilities, by providing brief interventions and follow-up contact.
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Using the body's cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway to reduce brain inflammation and mood and thinking problems after traumatic brain injury
This project tests whether stimulating the vagus nerve or giving a drug called anatabine can lower brain inflammation and improve mood, memory, and behavior after blast-related traumatic brain injury.
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Big-data driven suicide prevention for Veterans
A big-data project aimed at identifying and helping Veterans at risk of suicide who aren’t flagged by current prediction methods.
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Using nerve stimulation and a specific drug to reduce inflammation after brain injuries
This study is looking at how a special treatment might help reduce inflammation in the brain and improve mental health after a traumatic brain injury, especially for those who have experienced blast injuries, using a rodent model to find new ways to help people recover better.
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Preventing suicide in veterans using brief interventions and follow-up contact
This study is testing a new way to help veterans stay connected and supported after they leave the hospital for mental health care, with the goal of reducing the risk of suicide.
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.