The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced it has approved $2.8 million to fund three new research projects that focus on testing or developing new treatments for veterans who have Gulf War illnesses. The VA says the research incorporates recommendations of the department's Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force.

"Reaching out to Gulf War Veterans is essential to the transformation of VA," said Veterans Affairs Chief of Staff John R. Gingrich in the announcement. "This research is a great opportunity to do something that will improve the care and services these Veterans have earned."

According to the VA's Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards, 697,000 men and women served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 1990 to June 1991 during the Gulf War. Since they returned, nearly a quarter of Gulf War veterans have experienced illnesses and chronic symptoms that have led to speculation and research as to whether hazardous exposures during the Gulf War caused them. The symptoms have included fatigue, weakness, gastrointestinal problems, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbances, persistent headaches, skin rashes, respiratory conditions and mood changes.

The VA announcement references a report released in April by the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Gulf War and Health. This report, entitled "Health Effects of Serving in the Gulf War," found some evidence that service during the Gulf War is linked to fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain, myotrophic lateral sclerosis, and and even death due to causes such as car accidents in the early years after deployment. The report notes the data is limited, and is not strong enough for conclusions about what chemical, drug, pollutant, or other substance could have caused these symptoms.

The report recommends continued monitoring of Gulf War veterans and development of better medical care; and suggests multi-symptom illness likely results from the interactions between environmental exposure and genes, with some vets predisposed to illness.

"Last February, we welcomed Secretary Shinseki's decision to take a serious look at the disability claims of Gulf War Veterans," said Clarence Hill, national commander of The American Legion, in the VA's announcement. "Now that VA is following through with these important studies of Gulf War illness, which has plagued many of the 700,000 Gulf War Veterans for nearly 20 years, The American Legion believes these studies should provide a shared foundation for those Veterans who need to be cared for and compensated for their disabilities."

The research projects should take between two to five years to complete, and include:

-- A five-year study to evaluate the impact of resistance exercise training (RET) in treating chronic musculoskeletal pain and associated symptoms;

-- A four-year study on an animal model of Gulf War illnesses to assess effectiveness of therapies to enhance mood and memory;

-- A two-year pilot study that includes randomized, controlled, eight-week trials of a "mindfulness-based stress reduction" intervention, compared with usual care.

Adapted in part from a VA press release.

More on the research can be found here.

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