Sponsor or institution
Clinical trials and research at Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
As of November 12, 2026, Find a Trial lists 57 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.
- 57NIH research projects
NIH-funded research (newest 40 of 57)
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.
-
Pimavanserin for Sleep Problems in Veterans with PTSD
This grant supports Dr. Melissa Jones to study a new medicine, pimavanserin, to help veterans with PTSD sleep better.
-
Exposure and Response Prevention for Veterans with OCD (via video), to help daily functioning
A Veterans-focused program tests video-delivered ERP therapy to help people with OCD and sometimes PTSD feel more able to work and enjoy daily life.
-
AI-powered predictor for chemoradiation response in Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer
A new AI-based tool will help doctors tailor chemoradiation for Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer by predicting how each patient will respond to treatment.
-
Understanding how rural Veterans get mental health care through community providers
This grant aims to improve access to high-quality mental health care for rural Veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma by building a community-engaged program with non-VHA providers.
-
How Medicaid expansion affects care and coordination for veterans with chronic kidney disease
This project looks at how expanding Medicaid changes where veterans with chronic kidney disease get care and whether their care is better coordinated.
-
Advertising to help Veterans learn about proven PTSD therapies
This project uses targeted ads to encourage Veterans with PTSD to try proven psychotherapies.
-
More equitable smoking help for African American and Hispanic Veterans
This project will try ways to make proven quit-smoking treatments easier to find and use for African American and Hispanic veterans who smoke.
-
Direct-to-consumer program to reduce antibiotic treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria in Veterans with spinal cord injury
A patient-facing program will help Veterans with spinal cord injury and neurogenic bladder avoid unnecessary antibiotics for asymptomatic bladder bacteria.
-
RECLAIM: A one-day ACT program to help veterans with inflammatory bowel disease and mental health challenges
A quick, practical ACT-based program delivered in GI clinics to help veterans with IBD manage symptoms and improve mood and quality of life.
-
Improving heart care for veterans with military exposures
This grant aims to improve how doctors care for veterans who may have heart disease linked to military exposures.
-
Guided self-help care to widen access for depression and anxiety in VA primary care
A VA grant tests guided self-help programs for depression and generalized anxiety disorder that can be delivered in primary care with support from non-psychologist staff.
-
Using hospital records to improve nurse staffing on inpatient units
This project uses routine electronic health record data to help VA hospitals match nurse staffing to daily patient needs on inpatient units.
-
NAFLD care pathway for Veterans in VA primary care
This project will introduce a step-by-step screening and follow-up plan in VA primary care to find and manage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Veterans.
-
Brief CBT for anxiety in VA primary care
This project offers short, problem-focused cognitive behavioral therapy to Veterans with anxiety in VA primary care, delivered in-clinic or by VA Video Connect at home.
-
Novel Role of Fibrinogen in Pancreatic Cancer and a New Therapy Target
Aims to understand how fibrinogen helps pancreatic cancer grow and spread, and tests a new therapy (A2 protein) to improve treatment alongside standard chemotherapy for patients with pancreatic cancer.
-
Virtual Reality Mindfulness Training for Veterans with SCI and Chronic Pain
A mindfulness program delivered through virtual reality is being explored to help veterans with spinal cord injury live with less pain and better daily functioning.
-
How diuretics affect heart and kidney health in Veterans with CKD
This project looks at how diuretic medicines change body fluid, heart stress markers, symptoms, and heart/kidney outcomes in Veterans with chronic kidney disease.
-
Integrated cognitive‑behavioral therapy for veterans with anxiety and risky drinking
This project offers a combined cognitive‑behavioral therapy to help deployed veterans who have both anxiety and hazardous drinking improve their day‑to‑day functioning and quality of life.
-
Whole Health, Veteran-centered care for advanced liver disease
This project offers a Whole Health, Veteran-centered care approach to help Veterans with advanced liver disease get treatments that match their goals and reduce symptoms and hospital visits.
-
Blood clots linked to antiphospholipid antibodies
Researchers are looking at how antibodies against a blood protein called β2‑glycoprotein I may trigger dangerous clots and pregnancy loss in people with antiphospholipid syndrome.
-
Megalin and how sudden kidney injury can lead to chronic kidney disease
This work looks at whether changes in a kidney protein called megalin affect recovery after sudden kidney injury and the chance of developing long-term kidney disease.
-
Neurological disease risks among 1990–1991 Gulf War and era veterans
This project checks for patterns and timing of neurological diseases like ALS, Parkinson’s, and brain cancer in veterans who served during the 1990–1991 Gulf War.
-
Testing a brief therapy for anxiety in Veterans' primary care
This study is looking at how well a short therapy program can help Veterans with anxiety, and it will be offered in person or online to make it easier for more Veterans to get the support they need.
-
Improving community mental healthcare for rural Veterans after military sexual trauma
This project works with rural Veterans, local clinics, and VA partners to build better mental health support for people affected by military sexual trauma.
-
Health data tools to catch pancreatic cancer earlier
This project will build electronic alerts that scan Veterans' medical records to find missed signs of pancreatic cancer so they can get diagnosed earlier.
-
Improving functioning in veterans with obsessive-compulsive disorder through therapy
This study is looking at how well a therapy called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) works for veterans with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), especially since many also deal with PTSD and have trouble getting to therapy; by using video calls for therapy, the researchers want to see if this helps veterans manag
-
Understanding and treating pancreatic cancer in veterans
This study is looking into pancreatic cancer, which affects veterans more than others, to understand how it develops and why it can be hard to treat, while also working on new therapies just for veterans to help them feel better.
-
Improving the use of heart and kidney medications in veterans with kidney disease
This study is looking at how to better help veterans with chronic kidney disease get the heart medications they need, by figuring out why some aren’t receiving them and creating tools for doctors to make it easier to start or restart these treatments.
-
SIRPα's role in heart enlargement and muscle wasting in chronic kidney disease
This research looks at whether a protein called SIRPα causes muscle wasting and harmful heart growth in adults with chronic kidney disease.
-
Platelets and tiny blood vessel damage after traumatic brain injury
This project looks at whether blood platelets cause lasting small‑vessel and blood–brain barrier problems after traumatic brain injury, especially in Veterans.
-
Understanding how brain connectivity and genetics affect opioid addiction treatment outcomes
This study is looking at how brain connections and genes can help predict how well people with opioid use disorder, like veterans, will respond to treatments such as buprenorphine and methadone, so we can improve care for everyone.
-
Improving nurse staffing management using electronic health records
This study is looking at how to improve the number of nurses in hospitals by using information from patient records, so that nurse leaders can make better staffing decisions and ultimately provide better care for patients.
-
How Medicaid expansion affects healthcare for veterans with chronic kidney disease
This study looks at how expanding Medicaid helps veterans with chronic kidney disease get better healthcare and manage their treatments, especially when they use both VA and non-VA services.
-
Improving preventive care for veterans during health emergencies
This study looks at how COVID-19 has changed the way veterans get important check-ups for things like cancer and mental health, and it aims to find better ways to make sure they still receive these essential screenings during tough times.
-
Imaging AI tool to predict chemo-radiation response in Veterans with throat (oropharyngeal) cancer
This project uses medical images and AI to predict which Veterans with oropharyngeal (throat) cancer are likely to respond to chemo‑radiation.
-
Investigating the role of fibrinogen in pancreatic cancer progression
This study is looking at how a protein called fibrinogen might make pancreatic cancer worse in U.S. Veterans, with the goal of finding new ways to help treat this tough disease.
-
How tobacco exposure affects immune responses in head and neck cancer
This study is looking at how smoking affects the immune system in people with head and neck cancer, and it hopes to find new ways to improve treatments by understanding how tobacco changes tumors over time.
-
Creating a diverse research workforce in Veterans Affairs
This study is creating a summer program for college students from diverse backgrounds to gain hands-on research experience and mentorship, helping them learn how scientific discoveries can improve health for people, especially Veterans.
-
Effects of diuretics on heart and kidney health in veterans with chronic kidney disease
This study is looking at how diuretics, which help get rid of extra fluid, impact heart and kidney health in veterans with chronic kidney disease, to find better ways to improve their overall well-being.
-
Improving care for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in VA primary care
This study is working to help veterans get better care for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by using a clear plan that makes it easier for doctors to spot and treat the condition, so they can avoid serious liver problems.
Find the studies that fit you
A list is a starting point. Tell us your situation in your own words and we'll rank the studies that match and explain why. It's free and needs no account.