Office of Research & Development |
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The VA Health Systems Research (HSR) is an integral part of VA’s quest for innovative solutions to today’s healthcare challenges. HSR supports research that encompasses all aspects of VA healthcare, focusing on patient care, cost, and quality. The main mission of HSR research is to identify, evaluate, and rapidly implement evidence-based strategies that improve the quality and safety of care delivered to Veterans.
Approximately 1,000 funded investigators conduct collaborative, cross-cutting research, with studies addressing critical issues for both Veterans and the VA healthcare system. Investigations look at an array of topics, including suicide prevention, opioid management, mental health, complex chronic diseases, health informatics, and implementation science, among others. All HSR research proposals are merit-reviewed and subject to strict standards regarding scientific merit and relevance to Veterans’ healthcare needs.
HSR operates under a research model that emphasizes close partnership with clinical and policy stakeholders within VA, in addition to a focus on translating research findings into broader implementation in a learning healthcare system. HSR supports a nationwide network of Centers of Innovation (COINS) that include one or more focused areas of research and address questions of significance to the clinical and operational partners who are directly engaged in the research activities of each Center. The COIN program rewards research innovations and partnerships to ensure that research has the greatest possible impact on VA policies, healthcare practices, and health outcomes for Veterans.
HSR also supports: