Sponsor or institution
Clinical trials and research at Rlr VA Medical Center
As of November 12, 2026, Find a Trial lists 46 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.
- 46NIH research projects
NIH-funded research (newest 40 of 46)
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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Biomarkers to detect recent heavy drinking in veterans
A doctor-scientist team is testing blood biomarkers to better identify recent excessive alcohol use in veterans so clinicians can screen, counsel, and care for those at risk.
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Intermittent fasting with PD-1 inhibitors for non-small cell lung cancer
This grant tests whether a fasting-mimicking diet can boost the effectiveness of PD-1 inhibitors for people with non-small cell lung cancer.
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Bone health restoration after spinal cord injury through Wnt signaling and exercise
Aims to find a long-term way to preserve and rebuild bone in people with spinal cord injury, especially veterans, by combining exercise and bone-building signals.
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New ways to treat chronic pain after mild brain injuries
A research team is studying why some people develop long-lasting pain after a mild head injury and how brain inflammation contributes to it.
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DNA repair and early lung cancer progression in veterans
Aims to understand how DNA repair problems in lung cells help early changes turn into lung cancer in veterans.
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Harnessing Wnt signals to strengthen bones in veterans
A proposed program aims to make a powerful bone-building drug safer and more effective for veterans who are at high risk of fractures.
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Cyr61 protein's effect on bone stem cells and age-related bone loss
This work tests whether restoring a protein called Cyr61 in the bone marrow environment can help bone stem cells respond better and support healthier bones in older adults.
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Stronger bones for people with both diabetes and chronic kidney disease
This work tests whether combining treatments that build bone mass and improve bone quality can make bones stronger for people who have both diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
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Could the protein RIPK3 drive islet inflammation and beta-cell death in type 2 diabetes?
This project tests whether blocking the protein RIPK3 or its activity can reduce inflammation and protect insulin-producing beta cells for people with type 2 diabetes.
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Treatments to slow brain-injury–linked hardening of arteries in Veterans
Aimed at people with a history of repeated mild traumatic brain injuries, this project tests potential therapies to prevent faster buildup of artery plaque that raises heart and stroke risk.
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Choices for Managing Chronic Pain Without Medications
This project gives Veterans with chronic pain a decision tool and a coach to help pick and stick with non-drug pain treatments.
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Calcium balance in insulin-making pancreatic beta cells and its role in type 2 diabetes
This work looks at whether faulty calcium signaling in insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells contributes to type 2 diabetes and whether men and women are affected differently.
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Protecting bones after spinal cord injury with Wnt-targeted therapy and exercise
This project combines a Wnt-targeting approach with exercise to help people with spinal cord injury preserve or rebuild bone.
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New approaches for long-term pain after repeated mild head injuries
The project looks at whether blocking a brain inflammation pathway can reduce long-term pain after repeated mild head injuries in people of different ages and sexes.
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Understanding how breast cancer affects the body beyond just tumors
This study is looking at how breast cancer affects different parts of the body, especially muscles and bones, to find new ways to spot these changes early and improve treatments for patients.
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Better follow-up colonoscopies for Veterans with colorectal polyps
This project will create and pilot a program to help Veterans with past colorectal growths get the right follow-up colonoscopies — not too many and not too few.
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Recombinant Tamm‑Horsfall protein to help kidneys recover after acute injury
A lab-made piece of a kidney protein is being given to people with acute kidney injury—especially those with chronic kidney disease—to reduce inflammation and help the kidney heal.
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How Tamm‑Horsfall protein helps kidneys recover after sudden injury
This project looks at whether a kidney protein called Tamm‑Horsfall helps the kidney heal after sudden injury in people with acute kidney injury.
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A program to help Veterans reduce isolation and build social connections
This program offers Veterans an 8-week telehealth service with peer support and patient navigation to help reduce feelings of social isolation.
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How sun-damaged, aging skin cells may drive skin cancer
This project looks at whether pockets of sun-damaged, 'senescent' skin cells help cause skin cancer, especially in older adults and people on immune-suppressing drugs.
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Boosting bone regeneration by targeting Zfp384 to prevent fractures
This work explores whether increasing a protein called Zfp384 can help older Veterans and adults build stronger bone and heal fractures faster.
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Thrombopoietin-like peptides to speed bone healing and reduce fracture pain
Using thrombopoietin-like peptides to help veterans' bones heal faster and lower pain after fractures.
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Protecting the kidney and other organs after kidney injury
This study is looking at ways to help protect the kidneys and other organs from damage caused by a serious condition called acute kidney injury, which affects many people in the hospital, and it’s exploring new treatments that could improve recovery and health.
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Investigating factors that affect bile duct cells in liver diseases related to alcohol.
This study is looking at how certain liver cells, called cholangiocytes, react to damage and inflammation caused by alcohol, with the hope of finding new ways to help people with liver diseases related to drinking.
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Improving bone health in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease
This study is looking at how diabetes and chronic kidney disease can affect your bones and increase the risk of fractures, and it aims to find better treatments to help strengthen bones for people dealing with both conditions.
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Understanding the causes of Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
This study is looking at Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, a tough cancer that often hits young adults, especially veterans, to find out why some patients don’t respond well to treatment and how we can make those treatments better.
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New ways to help fractures heal faster and reduce pain
This study is looking for better ways to help veterans heal from fractures and manage their pain without relying on strong medications, by testing new treatments that could make recovery easier and more comfortable.
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How insulin growth factor-like proteins affect skin inflammation
This study is looking at how certain proteins in the body might affect skin allergies, like contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis, to find better ways to treat people who have these conditions.
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Investigating the role of RIP kinases in inflammation and cell death related to type 2 diabetes
This study is looking at how a protein called RIPK3 affects inflammation and the health of insulin-producing cells in people with type 2 diabetes, and it aims to see if a special treatment can help protect these cells from damage.
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Using DNA damage to personalize aging and related diseases
This study is looking at how our body's ability to fix DNA damage might help us understand and improve health as we age, especially for US veterans who are more likely to develop lung problems like COPD and lung cancer, by checking blood samples and seeing if lifestyle changes can make a difference.
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Finding better ways to manage chronic pain without medication
This study is all about helping Veterans with chronic pain find and use non-drug treatments that work for them, by giving them helpful tools and support to feel more confident in managing their pain.
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Investigating bone health in veterans with chronic kidney disease
This study is looking at how chronic kidney disease can make bones weaker and more likely to break in veterans, and it’s testing different treatments to help strengthen those bones and keep them safe.
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Finding ways to improve bone health after spinal cord injury.
This study is looking for ways to help veterans with spinal cord injuries strengthen their bones, which can become weak after the injury, by testing a new drug and combining it with exercise and therapies to improve their recovery.
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New treatments for chronic pain from mild brain injuries
This study is looking at how mild concussions, which many older veterans experience, can lead to long-lasting pain and inflammation in the brain, and it hopes to find new ways to help those dealing with chronic pain from these injuries.
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Link between a specific bacteria and Gulf War Illness in older veterans
This study is looking at how a specific bacteria related to gum disease might affect brain inflammation in older veterans with Gulf War Illness, to help understand how dental health could be linked to their symptoms.
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Using a modified kidney protein to treat kidney injury
This study is looking at a special version of a protein that might help people with acute kidney injury by reducing inflammation and helping their kidneys heal, especially for those who don’t have enough of this protein naturally.
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Improving telehealth care for stroke and headache patients
This study is all about finding better ways to provide telehealth services for veterans dealing with neurological issues like strokes and chronic headaches, so they can get the care they need no matter where they are.
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Improving bone health and healing in aging Veterans
This study is looking at new ways to help aging Veterans strengthen their bones and recover better after fractures, using a hormone called parathyroid hormone to boost bone growth and prevent osteoporosis.
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Improving chronic pain management for Veterans
This study is all about helping Veterans manage their chronic pain better by improving communication and support, especially for Black Veterans, so they can make informed choices about their care and feel more engaged in their treatment.
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Improving fracture healing in older adults
This study is looking at a new way to help older adults heal better from fractures by using a special protein, and it aims to make recovery easier and improve their overall quality of life.
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