Sponsor or institution
Clinical trials and research at Birmingham VA Medical Center
As of November 12, 2026, Find a Trial lists 44 NIH-funded research projects at this institution. Every study is explained in plain English. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov and NIH RePORTER, updated November 12, 2026.
- 44NIH research projects
NIH-funded research (newest 40 of 44)
Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.
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Cardiovascular changes after AV fistula creation and how autophagy affects it
A VA-led project looks at how blood vessel remodeling after AV fistula surgery may be helped by understanding and targeting autophagy.
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Targeting spinal cord inflammation with a new HuR inhibitor to help SCI patients
A new treatment approach uses a small molecule to block a brain-spinal inflammation regulator (HuR) that drives harmful inflammation after spinal cord injury, aiming to lessen damage and pain for people with SCI.
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Genetics of Osteoarthritis and Recovery After Joint Replacement
A study looking at how genes affect osteoarthritis and recovery after hip or knee replacement to help tailor rehabilitation for veterans.
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Home-based walking program for veterans with PAD using telehealth
A telehealth-based walking program is being tested to help veterans with peripheral artery disease improve activity and health at home.
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Allopurinol to improve heart relaxation in Black adults with resistant high blood pressure
Giving allopurinol to Black adults with resistant high blood pressure to help the heart relax and work better.
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Employment support for veterans with opioid use disorder
This project uses a personalized job‑support program called Individual Placement and Support to help veterans with opioid use disorder find and keep work while they receive treatment.
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TREM-1 Pathway in COPD-Related Pulmonary Hypertension
This grant explores how a receptor called TREM-1 may drive lung blood vessel changes in people with COPD and pulmonary hypertension, with the goal of finding new ways to help those patients.
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Multi-site psilocybin trial for treatment-resistant depression in Veterans
A large, multi-site study is testing whether psilocybin can help Veterans with hard-to-treat depression, with or without PTSD.
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Blocking a spinal protein to ease long-term nerve-injury pain
Researchers are trying a new small-molecule drug that stops a protein in spinal immune cells to lower chronic nerve pain after injury.
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Keeping Veterans Housed with the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
This project looks at how the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans connects Veterans at risk of losing housing to services and what happens after they call.
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Suicide after opioid dose reductions in Veterans
Researchers will collect detailed medical records and interviews to understand why some Veterans die by suicide when their opioid prescriptions are reduced or stopped.
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Xanthine oxidase gene differences and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Researchers are looking at whether genetic differences in the xanthine oxidase enzyme are linked to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in people with high blood pressure.
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Lab-grown human brain models for IDH-mutant glioma
This project grows human brain tissue in the lab and introduces IDH mutations to learn how certain adult gliomas start and to find new treatment targets.
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A new drug to reduce inflammation after spinal cord injury by blocking HuR
Testing a new drug that blocks a protein called HuR to reduce harmful inflammation soon after a spinal cord injury.
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Relationships among mood, inflammation, and pain in Veterans with fibromyalgia
This project explores how feelings, brain inflammation, and pain relate in Veterans living with fibromyalgia and how exercise might help.
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How genes affect osteoarthritis and recovery after hip or knee replacement
This work looks at how people’s genes relate to osteoarthritis and how well Veterans recover after hip or knee replacement.
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How cell adhesion signals affect lung scarring and healing
This research looks at whether restoring a protein called TTP can reduce the scarring process that happens in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
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Investigating mechanisms of colorectal and lung cancer
This study is looking into how certain proteins and pathways in the body affect the growth of colorectal and lung cancer, especially how they make it harder for treatments to work, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding more about cancer and how smoking might play a role in its development.
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Improving care for advanced bladder cancer
This study is looking for better ways to treat advanced bladder cancer by improving current treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy, so patients can have a better chance of recovery and a better quality of life, especially for those who may need surgery.
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Understanding how HIV-1 is transmitted in women
This study is looking at how HIV spreads in women by examining how the virus interacts with certain immune cells right after exposure, which could help create better prevention methods for women.
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Understanding how high blood pressure affects kidney health
This study is looking into why some people with high blood pressure develop serious kidney problems while others don’t, using special rats to help understand the changes in kidney blood vessels, which could lead to better ways to prevent and treat kidney issues for those affected.
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Investigating how certain immune cells develop in lupus
This study is looking at how a specific protein called IKAROS helps keep B-cells calm and prevents them from causing problems in people with lupus, and it involves patients providing samples to help researchers understand this better.
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How inflammation in tumor surroundings affects pancreatic cancer growth
This study is looking at how certain signals in the supportive tissue around pancreatic cancer cells might help the cancer grow and avoid being attacked by the immune system, with the hope of finding new ways to treat patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Effects of exosomes on heart injury during heart surgery
This study is looking at how tiny particles called exosomes, which come from your cells, might influence heart damage during heart surgery for mitral regurgitation, helping doctors better understand and predict how your heart will recover after the procedure.
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Understanding how kidney cysts develop in a genetic kidney disease
This study is looking at how a part of the immune system affects the growth of kidney cysts in people with a genetic condition called ADPKD, so we can find ways to spot those who might face more serious kidney problems and help them sooner.
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Using secosteroids to treat skin cancer caused by UVB exposure
This study is looking at a new treatment for skin cancer caused by UVB rays, using special compounds that might help slow down cancer growth and heal the skin, so patients can have better options for their care.
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Home-based walking programs for veterans with Peripheral Artery Disease
This study is looking for ways to help veterans with Peripheral Artery Disease get more active by trying out two different home walking programs—one using a website and the other through video calls—to see which one helps them walk more regularly and improve their health.
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Investigating how RNA regulation affects inflammation in nerve cells to treat neuropathic pain.
This study is looking at how certain molecules can help reduce inflammation in the spinal cord to ease chronic pain caused by nerve injuries, and it's aimed at finding new ways to help people who suffer from neuropathic pain.
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Understanding how muscle signaling affects ALS progression
This study is looking at how problems with communication between muscles and nerves might affect the progression of ALS, and it's for people with ALS to help find better ways to diagnose and monitor the disease.
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Exploring the links between emotions, inflammation, and pain in Veterans with Fibromyalgia.
This study is looking at how feelings and inflammation can impact pain in Veterans with Fibromyalgia, and it aims to create a special exercise program to help improve their well-being.
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Testing a medication to help Veterans with PTSD and recent strokes.
This study is looking at whether a medication called methylphenidate can help Veterans who have both PTSD and have recently had a stroke feel better and function more easily in their daily lives.
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How smoking affects heart disease through specific proteins
This study is looking at how smoking affects heart health by changing the structure of blood vessels, and it aims to find out if certain proteins linked to smoking can help us understand and possibly improve treatment for heart disease in people who smoke.
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Preventing homelessness among Veterans through a national call center
This study looks at how the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans helps Veterans who might be facing homelessness by connecting them with important resources, and it aims to find the best ways to support them and keep them off the streets.
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Investigating genetic factors in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
This study is looking at how certain genetic differences in a protein called xanthine oxidase might affect heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in people with high blood pressure, and it hopes to find new ways to help manage this condition.
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Understanding brain tumors caused by specific genetic mutations
This study is looking at how certain gene changes in brain tumors called gliomas affect their growth, using special lab-grown brain models to find new ways to treat these tumors, which could help patients in the future.
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Targeting inflammation to improve recovery after spinal cord injury
This study is looking at a new treatment that could help reduce inflammation and pain after a spinal cord injury by targeting a specific molecule in the body, which might lead to better recovery and improved quality of life for patients.
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Understanding suicide risks during opioid transitions in veterans
This study is looking into what might lead veterans to consider suicide when they are stopping opioid use, hoping to find ways to help prevent these tragedies by understanding their personal and medical backgrounds better.
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Helping veterans with opioid use disorder find and keep jobs
This study is looking at how a program called Individual Placement and Support (IPS) can help veterans with opioid use disorder find and keep jobs, especially during tough times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Understanding how arteriovenous fistulas develop problems after creation
This study is looking into why some arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), which are important for patients on dialysis, don’t develop as they should, and it hopes to find ways to help more of them work better for those who need them.
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Allopurinol helps improve heart function in African Americans with high blood pressure
This study is looking at how the gout medication allopurinol affects heart function in African Americans with stubborn high blood pressure, to see if it could help improve heart health for those who struggle to control their blood pressure.
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