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Clinical Science
Research and Development
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CSRD Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 5, 2024.5.31
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Miriam's Message
Annually, in May, the VA celebrates Research Week to raise awareness of Veteran-focused medical research.
This year, across the nation, events at VA Medical Centers focused on the key themes for our learning health system:
- VA Research is part of a community effort to deliver the best possible care to our Veterans, working hand-in-hand with clinicians, academic affiliates, Veteran volunteers, and multiple partners both in and out of government.
- VA Research is rooted in anticipating Veterans' needs and projecting future trends, so that our clinical care can continue to deliver effective and agile solutions.
- VA’s Research efforts are a major contributor to the global health science community, improving care for everyone.
On May 13, 2024, I had the great pleasure of attending a ceremony in Washington, DC, that marked the first of multiple events happening across the nation during Research Week, each dedicated to honoring and celebrating VA researchers.
This year’s theme was “Building Community through Research," focused on highlighting the dedicated efforts of more than 3,700 investigators who work hand-in-hand with clinicians, academic affiliates, Veteran volunteers, and multiple partners both in and out of government to deliver the effective and agile medical solutions our Veterans deserve.
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The official party at the event included The Honorable Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Dr. Rachel Ramoni, Chief Research and Development Officer (pictured at right).
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At the event, Secretary McDonough presented Dr. Matthew Rettig with the John Blair Barnwell Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Science. Dr. Rettig (on the right) with Secretary McDonough.
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After receiving the award, Dr. Rettig had the opportunity to make some brief comments.
He addressed how privileged he feels to be working in the VA and to be improving outcomes for Veterans, especially through research. He expressed thanks to our Veterans, stressing that they are truly altruistic. He gave the example of their willingness to enroll in our clinical trials programs and participate in VA research with the goal of helping others. He also thanked VA leadership and noted how nimble the VA can be in terms of executing clinical trials, getting them open in order to benefit patients in the near term. Dr. Retting gave a special word of thanks to Dr. Ramoni and CSRD Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager Dr. Ken Myrie whose work has improved the way we can initiate clinical trials and conduct them in a novel and innovative fashion. He also acknowledged his collaborators, colleagues, and staff who all work together towards improving the lives of Veterans.
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Other awards were also presented at the ceremony.
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Dr. Alvin Powers, Staff Physician at the VA Tennessee Valley Health System in Nashville, TN, (pictured at left with Secretary McDonough) was one of two personnel who received the William S. Middleton Award for outstanding scientific contributions and achievements in the areas of biomedical research.
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Dr. Paula Bickford, Senior Research Career Scientist at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, FL, (pictured at right with Secretary McDonough) also received the William S. Middleton Award.
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Dr. Wes Ely, Associate Director of Aging Research for the Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Geriatric Research Educational Center, received the Paul B. Magnuson Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rehabilitation Research and Development. Dr. Sanjay Saint, Chief of Medicine at the VA Ann Arbor Health Care System in Michigan, received the Under Secretary’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health Services Research. Pictured from left below are Secretary McDonough; Dr. Susan Kirsch, Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health, Diversity, Education and Afiliate Networks; Dr. Saint; Dr. Bickford; Dr. Rettig; Dr. Ely; Dr. Powers; Dr. Ramoni; and Dr. Steven Lieberman, Deputy Under Secretary for Health.
 It was a wonderful event, showcasing the accomplishments of VA researchers.
With special thanks to Matthew Davio, ORD Communications, and Dr. Mark Roltsch, CSRD, for all their efforts related to the Barnwell Award presentation. Dr. Roltsch is pictured in the photo on the right with myself and Dr. Rettig.
--from the desk of Dr. Miriam Smyth, Acting Director, CSRD
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 Dr. Mark Roltsh (third from right) is pictured with Career Development awardees during Research Week activities at the Atlanta VA.
The Office of Research and Development (ORD), through the Suicide Prevention Research Impact NeTwork (SPRINT), intends to continue its established VA / STARRS-LS Researcher-in-Residence Program which allows VA investigators to examine predictors of suicidality and related outcomes using data collected as part of the Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service – Longitudinal Study (STARRS-LS). This opportunity is contingent upon funding support each fiscal year.
Army STARRS was a DoD-funded project that commenced in 2009 and was designed to comprehensively investigate risk and protective factors for suicide, suicide-related behavior, non-suicidal self-injury, and other mental/behavioral health issues in Army Soldiers. It is the largest research study of mental health risk and resilience ever conducted among Army personnel. STARRS-LS extends the original Army STARRS effort through follow-up of Soldiers during their careers in the Army as well as during their transition from the Army to civilian life (https://starrs-ls.org/#/list/publications). To date, approximately 60% of the STARRS-LS survey cohort have transitioned to Veterans status, and therefore, data collected in this research study has significant relevance for examining longitudinal predictors of suicide in Veterans. The Residents will work as part of ongoing STARRS teams and have opportunities to develop data analytic skills necessary for research that involves large data sets and have opportunities to establish a suicide prevention research portfolio that will be useful for other funding opportunities.
This program is a 2-year residency, with ORD supporting 50% effort each year. Residents will be eligible for the second year of funding contingent upon the support of the mentorship team and successful completion of Year 1 residency goals. VA-salaried investigators should hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent advanced degree, and have at least a 5/8ths VA appointment at VA Medical Centers or VA-approved sites.
Full proposals due from applicants on June 14, 2024, by 8 p.m. ET, and the residency would commence October 1, 2023. The full Request for Applications (RFA) can be found here:
VA/STARRS-LS Researcher-in-Residence Program
 CSRD joined others from ORD recently to congratulate Dr. Karen Jeans (pictured front, center above), celebrate her retirement, and wish her a very fond farewell. Karen has devoted 20 years to ORD where she served as Director of Regulatory Affairs for ORPP&E (that is now ePROS). She also worked part-time as an Advanced Practice Nurse at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, work she plans to continue after retirement from ORD. Karen has been a mentor to many and the resident expert in so many areas for which she will be sincerely missed. CSRD extends best wishes for all her future endeavors.
May: Miscellaneous Other
This JIT area may be used as needed.
The Miscellaneous JIT area may be used if another JIT area is prematurely approved or disapproved, or for information that is not suitable for any other JIT area. In cases where documents need to be submitted in the Miscellaneous JIT area, there should be a prior discussion between the Principal Investigator and the Office of Research and Development staff.
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CSRD Mourns Passing of Former Colleague Jarrod Collier
Former CSRD colleague Jarrod Collier passed away unexpectedly on May 14. Although he had moved on from CSRD and the VA, to his next chapter with the Food and Drug Administration at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research in September of 2020, he had stayed in touch and will be greatly missed. While in CSRD, Jarrod worked with Just-in-Time and the Career Development Award Program where his contributions to the annual symposium were noteworthy.
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The CSRD Data Monitoring Committee, that provides data and safety monitoring for CSRD-funded projects, is seeking new members -- oncologists, biostatisticians, neurologists, and others. For more information, please contact DMC Manager Dr. Tamara Paine at Tamara.Paine@va.gov.
Career Development: VHACADEReview@va.gov
Clinical Trials: clin-review@va.gov
General Mailbox: VHABLRD-CSRD@va.gov (Please note this is a shared mailbox that should be used for general questions that will be triaged by staff to the appropriate individual.)
Just-in-Time Mailbox: VHACOBLCSRDJIT@va.gov
Scientific Portfolio/Program Managers: BLR&D and CSR&D Contact Information (va.gov)
Newsletter: Lucindia.Shouse@va.gov
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