Clinical research in the Department of Veterans Affairs: using research to improve patient outcomes.

This brief description of a few VA clinical research activities does not do the program justice but does provide insight concerning priorities and prospects for future clinical research. In addition to doing clinical research, the VA has renewed its commitment to the training and career development of clinical investigators, especially physician investigators. We have had an excellent response to our solicitations for career development awards for medical, surgical, and psychiatric junior faculty who wish to pursue a clinical research career. The continued collaboration between VA and the academic community is critical to this revitalization of our research career development programs. Clinical research short-courses and didactic programs are also available to our investigators through similar collaborative relationships. The future is promising for clinical research in the Department of Veterans Affairs. We enjoy strong support from the Department leadership, Veterans Service Organizations, and many policy makers in Washington who support health related research activities year after year. We work hard to justify their support of and confidence in our abilities to improve health care for the many ill veterans who benefit from our research.