Sponsor or institution
Clinical trials and research at Philadelphia VA Medical Center
As of November 12, 2026, Find a Trial lists 74 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.
- 74NIH research projects
NIH-funded research (newest 40 of 74)
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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Genetic factors behind alcohol and opioid use disorders and depression in veterans
A study using genetic data from veterans to understand how genes contribute to co-occurring alcohol use, prescription opioid use, and depression.
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Anti-inflammatory drug delivery that activates with motion for knee ligament injuries
A new way to deliver anti-inflammatory medicine directly inside a joint after ACL injuries using tiny, motion-activated beads designed to release medication over time.
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Impact of overload and overuse after subscapularis tears on shoulder health
This project looks at how tears in the subscapularis tendon can damage the shoulder joint over time, potentially guiding better care for people with this common injury.
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Using realistic brain-injury models to improve recovery after TBI
This project builds a realistic large-animal model of traumatic brain injury to find rehabilitation approaches that help people recover thinking, sleep, and daily function after TBI.
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Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury and Epilepsy: Finding New Ways to Stop Seizures
This grant explores how repetitive and complex brain injuries lead to epilepsy and cognitive problems, with a focus on Veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury.
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Support for employed caregivers of Veterans
This project offers help to working family caregivers of Veterans to reduce stress and better balance jobs and caregiving.
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Connexin Hemichannel Blockers to Preserve Muscle Function After Neuromuscular Injury
Aims to protect muscle during severe nerve and muscle injuries by using a small molecule to block channels that contribute to muscle wasting, with hopes of better recovery after surgery.
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Using genes to find new risk factors and treatments for carotid artery disease
Researchers are using big genetic data to uncover why carotid artery disease occurs and to find new ways to prevent and treat it for people at risk.
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How ongoing sleep problems affect memory and thinking after a head injury
Looking at whether long-term sleep problems make it harder for people with traumatic brain injury to regain memory and thinking skills.
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Caregiver SOS: Help for working family caregivers of Veterans
A support program that helps employed family caregivers of Veterans manage work and caregiving stress so they can stay healthier and keep their jobs.
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Remotely delivered brain stimulation to help cognition in Veterans with mTBI and PTSD
A non-invasive brain stimulation treatment used at home aims to improve thinking skills for Veterans who have had mild brain injuries and PTSD.
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Block inflammation in the knee to prevent post-traumatic osteoarthritis
Aims to slow or stop knee joint damage after an injury by blocking a key inflammatory pathway in the joint.
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Shoulder damage from subscapularis tendon tears and overuse
This research looks at how tears of the subscapularis tendon and repeated shoulder overuse cause joint damage in people with rotator cuff injuries.
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CReATE Motion Center: Cartilage Regeneration for Joint Health in Veterans
A VA center in Philadelphia is building new cartilage-regeneration methods to help Veterans move better and reduce arthritis pain.
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Brain stimulation to help PTSD after chronic traumatic brain injury
This project tries using targeted brain stimulation to reduce PTSD symptoms and improve thinking in people with long-term traumatic brain injury.
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Remotely deployed gamification to boost activity for Veterans with Parkinson’s
A remote, gamified program using wearables aims to help Veterans with Parkinson’s increase daily physical activity.
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Multi-omics look at risk and resilience to opioid use disorder in veterans with chronic pain
This grant funds a mentored 5-year project to understand why some veterans with chronic pain are more likely to develop opioid use disorder and what factors help them stay resilient.
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Understanding how regulatory T cells stay balanced in the gut
A care-focused grant looking at how the body’s regulatory T cells keep the gut calm in health and inflammatory bowel disease.
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Using spinal loading to help repair worn spinal discs
This project will see if specific spinal loading can improve nutrient flow and promote healing in damaged spinal discs for people with chronic back pain.
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Improving suicide prevention for women veterans through the Veterans Crisis Line
This study is looking to improve support for women veterans who call the Veterans Crisis Line for help with suicidal thoughts by understanding their unique needs and experiences, so we can create better resources for them.
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Blocking connexin hemichannels to protect muscles after nerve or muscle injury
An oral drug called boldine is being used to try to protect muscles and improve recovery for people with severe nerve or muscle injuries.
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Genes and Lp(a): heart and blood vessel risk in diverse communities
This project uses genetic data from diverse groups—especially Black people and U.S. Veterans—to link high lipoprotein(a) levels with heart and blood vessel disease and to find who may benefit from new Lp(a)-lowering treatments.
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Tiny skin particles that may drive sun damage and inflammation
This project looks at whether small packets released by sun‑exposed skin cells cause skin inflammation and aging, which could matter for people with sun-damaged skin including military personnel and veterans.
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Improving CAR T-cell treatment for advanced prostate cancer
Testing improved engineered immune cells (CAR T cells) to better fight advanced prostate cancer in adult men.
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STI screening for women Veterans in VA care
This project looks at how often women Veterans get tested for sexually transmitted infections in VA clinics and how those testing rates have changed over recent years.
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Developing advanced therapies for cartilage regeneration to improve joint function
This study is all about creating a new center at the VA Medical Center in Philadelphia that will focus on developing new treatments to help people with arthritis and joint injuries feel better and move more easily.
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Improving recovery and daily function for Veterans after stroke
This project will develop and try out ways to help older Veterans regain physical ability and stay active after a stroke.
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Mechanically‑triggered anti-inflammatory treatment for ACL/cranial cruciate injuries
Researchers are developing tiny capsules that release anti-inflammatory medicine when the knee moves to help reduce joint inflammation after ACL or cruciate ligament injuries.
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Expanding fair access to home dialysis for Veterans
This project will try peer support and clinic changes to help Veterans with kidney failure get safe, affordable dialysis at home.
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Improving suicide prevention for women veterans using the Veterans Crisis Line
This study is looking to improve support for women veterans who contact the Veterans Crisis Line for help with suicidal thoughts by analyzing their calls and medical records, and talking to them about their experiences, so we can create better services that meet their specific needs.
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Combination joint injection to help prevent arthritis after ACL injury
This project is creating an injection that slowly releases protective medicines into a newly injured knee to help people with ACL tears avoid early arthritis.
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Creating new cartilage implants for knee joint resurfacing
This study is exploring new 3D-printed cartilage implants made from special materials that help grow cartilage cells, aiming to improve knee function and quality of life for people with osteoarthritis.
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How immune signals and genes could help skin regrow without scarring
This work looks at whether turning on specific immune and genetic signals can help skin wounds heal back to normal without leaving a scar in mice and human tissue.
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Genetic links between alcohol or opioid problems and depression
Researchers are looking for genes that may help explain why some people, especially Veterans, have both alcohol or prescription opioid problems and major depression.
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Adding hydroxychloroquine to artery-based treatment for liver cancer
This project combines artery-blocking liver tumor treatment with the drug hydroxychloroquine to block cancer cells' survival mechanisms in people with liver cancer who cannot have surgery.
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Finding genetic causes and treatment targets for carotid artery narrowing
This project uses veterans' genetic data and medical records to find why carotid arteries narrow and help people at risk of stroke.
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Helping overweight and obese Veterans become more active using games and social support
This project is testing if a fun, game-like program with social encouragement can help overweight and obese Veterans become more physically active.
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Developing new treatments to reduce pain from arthritis
This study is looking for new ways to help military service members and veterans with post-traumatic osteoarthritis by finding treatments that reduce pain and inflammation in their joints, using special cells to heal damaged cartilage, and exploring how a specific receptor affects their symptoms.
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Understanding how regulatory T cells function in the intestines
This study is looking at how special immune cells called regulatory T cells help keep your gut healthy and may prevent conditions like Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, with the hope of finding new treatments that could help people with these issues.
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Understanding how traumatic brain injuries lead to epilepsy and other problems
This study is looking at how traumatic brain injuries in military veterans can lead to hard-to-treat epilepsy, using pigs to help understand what happens in the brain after the injury, so we can find better ways to help those affected.
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