Sponsor or institution
Clinical trials and research at Ralph H Johnson 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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Role of the immune system in brain injury and later dementia
This research explores how the body's immune response after traumatic brain injury may influence later dementia, aiming to identify targets to protect brain health.
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Understanding why some HIV patients on effective ART still lose CD4 cells
Researchers are studying how autoantibodies that target CD4 cells may cause immune deterioration in people with HIV who are on long‑term antiretroviral therapy.
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Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy for Veterans with Social Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms
A clinical trial tests whether a flexible brain-behavior therapy helps veterans with social anxiety and PTSD symptoms feel better and engage more in daily life.
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Behavioral Activation at Home via Telehealth for Depression in Heart Disease Patients
A home-based telehealth program delivering Behavioral Activation to adults recently discharged after a cardiovascular event aims to improve daily functioning and mood.
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Aerobic exercise to boost stroke rehabilitation outcomes with a VR game
A VA-based study tests whether an aerobic workout before a hand-rehabilitation game can improve recovery after stroke for veterans.
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Data-driven methods to identify social determinants of health
A data-driven approach to find and document patients’ social factors in veterans’ care to help tailor referrals and improve health outcomes.
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Web-based training to treat PTSD and substance use together in Veterans
A web-based training resource helps VA clinicians learn how to provide integrated treatment for Veterans with both PTSD and substance use disorders.
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Noise-related myelin damage in the auditory system
A study exploring how loud noise may damage the protective myelin around nerves involved in hearing, which could affect Veterans who have trouble understanding speech in noisy places.
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Combined recovery program and home telehealth for Veterans leaving VA hospitals
This project combines group recovery sessions with nurse-supported home telehealth to help Veterans with substance use disorders stay connected to care after leaving the VA hospital.
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Weight loss and exercise to improve mobility and well-being after stroke in obese veterans
A study tests whether adding weight loss with or without supervised exercise can help improve physical function and quality of life for obese veterans recovering from stroke.
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Complement Factor H–based Therapies for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
A study aimed at developing therapies that modulate the immune system to slow or prevent vision loss in people with age-related macular degeneration.
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Multisensory support to improve standing balance after stroke
This project uses extra sensory feedback to help people with long-term stroke improve their standing balance.
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Game that uses muscle signals to retrain arm and hand movements after stroke
This project uses a computer game controlled by your arm muscle electrical signals to help people who have persistent hand or arm problems after a stroke regain more normal movement.
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How certain brain circuits control opioid relapse
This project studies how opioid use changes specific brain circuits to make relapse more likely, with a focus on Veterans with opioid use disorder.
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T cell therapy that delivers immune-boosting IL-12 to lung tumors
A new engineered T cell treatment that targets lung tumors and releases the immune protein IL-12 directly at the cancer, aimed at people with lung cancer including Veterans.
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Dynamic risk models to improve NAFLD care for VA patients
A VA project will add smart, evolving prediction tools to identify VA patients at risk of NAFLD progression and help clinicians tailor care.
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Online training for clinicians to deliver COPE, a combined PTSD and substance-use therapy
This project offers web training to teach VA clinicians how to deliver COPE, a combined Prolonged Exposure therapy for Veterans with PTSD and substance use problems.
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Finding the right rTMS dose for depression after spinal cord injury
This project tests a new way to set rTMS treatment levels so people with spinal cord injury who have depression can get safe, effective brain stimulation.
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How sudden PTSD-like stress may increase risk of cannabis addiction
Researchers are looking at whether an acute, severe stress reaction can change the brain in ways that make veterans more likely to develop cannabis addiction.
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How heart cells and scar tissue shape heart structure and function
This project looks at how heart cells and scarring behave after long-term pressure overload (like from high blood pressure or aortic valve narrowing) to find ways to reduce lingering heart scarring.
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PTSD and bone health in Veterans
This work looks at whether PTSD leads to weaker bones and why, to help Veterans and others living with PTSD.
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How brain circuits and glia control sleep
This work uses tiny brain cameras to watch neurons and glial cells to understand how they drive sleep and wakefulness in ways that could matter for people with sleep problems and Alzheimer's disease.
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Beta-2 receptor drugs to help damaged kidneys recover
Seeing if medicines that stimulate beta-2 adrenergic receptors can help people with chronic kidney disease, especially when podocyte injury is involved, recover kidney function.
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Protecting the hearing nerve after loud-noise damage
This project develops treatments to protect the auditory nerve after loud-noise injury for adults, including military veterans.
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Engineered stem cell therapy for chronic pancreatitis pain
This project uses modified stem cells that make a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin to try to reduce long-lasting pain from chronic pancreatitis.
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How PTSD and related health problems affect bone healing in Veterans
This project looks at whether conditions like PTSD make bones heal more slowly in aging Veterans and whether boosting the bone-building effects of parathyroid hormone can help them recover faster.
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Circuity-guided rTMS for tobacco use in Veterans: comparing insula and prefrontal targets
A study tests a brain-stimulation approach to help Veterans quit smoking by comparing two brain targets to reduce cravings and smoking.
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Investigating brain neurons that induce sleep and their role in sleep disorders.
This study is looking at how certain brain cells help us sleep, especially for people with sleep problems like PTSD, to find new ways to help those who struggle with insomnia or feel too sleepy during the day.
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Understanding how COVID-19 care changes affected veterans with chronic conditions
This project looks at how changes in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic affected veterans with long-term health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
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Treating blood-vessel damage in lupus-related kidney disease
Researchers are trying sepiapterin, a compound that may improve blood-vessel cell health and reduce kidney inflammation for people with lupus nephritis.
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Hormone Treatment to Help Nerves and Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury
This project explores how special hormone-carrying particles might help protect nerves and muscles and improve recovery for people with severe spinal cord injury.
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GAS6/Axl signaling and common high blood pressure
This work looks at whether a protein signal called GAS6 activating Axl on certain immune cells drives inflammation that contributes to high blood pressure in adults.
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How gut microbes and the immune protein C3a shape adult bone health
This work explores whether common gut bacteria and an immune protein called C3a change bone growth and strength in adults.
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Investigating a new treatment for spinal cord injury using estrogen-loaded nanoparticles
This study is testing a new way to help people with spinal cord injuries by using a special gel patch that slowly releases estrogen to protect nerves and reduce muscle loss, and it's being done in rats to see how safe and effective it is before it could be used in patients.
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Understanding how stress affects alcohol use in Veterans
This study is looking at how stress affects drinking habits in Veterans with alcohol use disorder, hoping to find better ways to help them manage both issues.
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Home telehealth program using activity-based therapy to help heart patients recover after hospitalization
This project offers behavioral activation through home telehealth to adults with cardiovascular disease who feel depressed after leaving the hospital.
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Investigating how mechanical signals affect abdominal aortic aneurysms
This study is looking at how certain molecules can help us understand and treat abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) better, with the goal of finding new ways to slow down or stop the growth of this condition that affects many people.
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Improving movement and mental health in obese veterans after a stroke through weight loss and exercise
This study is looking to help veterans who are overweight and have had a stroke by trying out a 15-week program that mixes weight loss and exercise to see which approach works best for their recovery.
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Testing a new headset for remote brain wave monitoring in epilepsy patients
This study is testing a new, easy-to-use headset that helps nurses quickly check brain activity for Veterans with epilepsy, making it simpler for them to get the care they need without traveling far.
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Using aerobic exercise to improve recovery after a stroke
This study is looking at how doing aerobic exercise before rehabilitation activities, like playing a virtual reality game, can help stroke survivors recover better by improving their movement, thinking, and mood.
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