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Landmark MVP study hits quarter-million enrollment mark

March 24, 2014

Veterans who sign up for MVP provide health information and a blood sample that is used for DNA analysis. (Photo by Frank Curran)

Veterans who sign up for MVP provide health information and a blood sample that is used for DNA analysis. (Photo by Frank Curran)

VA's Million Veteran Program (MVP) enrolled its 250,000^th volunteer research participant in early March.

A Korean War Veteran at the VA Loma Linda (Calif.) Healthcare System was the 250,000^th person to sign up for the research program.

Launched in 2011, MVP aims to create one of the world's largest databases of health and genetic information. Up to a million Veterans are expected to be enrolled in MVP by 2018. The goal is to better understand how genes affect health.

Health information and genetic samples collected through MVP are stored securely and will be made available for studies by authorized researchers. The information is linked to Veterans' VA electronic health records, giving researchers more valuable data to study. Stringent safeguards are in place to protect Veterans' privacy.

MVP data will help researchers study a wide range of health conditions—from chronic diseases such as diabetes and schizophrenia, to post-deployment concerns such as PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

MVP is enrolling Veterans at nearly 50 VA medical centers nationwide. For more information, visit www.research.va.gov/MVP.