Promising Research on Gulf War Illness, other Deployment Health Issues Presented at Key Scientific Meeting

(KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ CDMRP Release) -- From Gulf War Illness to traumatic brain injury to post-traumatic stress disorder to suicide, veterans face some of the most pressing conditions confronting the health care system today. And today's troops fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan return home with medical challenges often unique to members of the military.

Research to address these needs is underway, and the work of hundreds of investigators engaged in the effort is being showcased September 1-3 at the Military Health Research Forum in Kansas City. The Forum is a conference designed to bring together investigators funded by the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs as well as invited speakers, consumers, members of the military health care system and DOD policy makers to facilitate the exchange of information and the development of new collaborations, and learn about research advancements funded through the host programs.

Areas of research include Gulf War Illness, psychological health, neuroprotection, rehabilitation, substance abuse, family issues and many more.


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Among the highlighted abstracts:

* New research on treating Gulf War Illness, a condition that affects approximately 25 percent of service men and women who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. [ Read more about cutting edge Gulf War Illness treatments research ]

* Treatment for, and prevention of traumatic brain injury. Often called the "signature injury" of the Iraqi war, TBI can lead to a range of symptoms including headache, confusion, behavior change, memory trouble, convulsions and others. Topics examined include brain tissue regeneration, driving problems after mild TBI and the use of biomarkers to determine the extent of TBI. [ Read more about brain injury disagnostic and treatment oriented research initiatives ]

* Innovative treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Depending on the conflict in which they served, 10 to 30 percent of soldiers who have spent time in war zones experience the debilitating and life altering symptoms of PTSD. Topics examined include employing virtual environments and novel medicines to help military personnel diagnosed with PTSD and or/other co-morbidities, and the use of psychiatric service dogs to help troops manage the symptoms of PTSD. [Read more about groundbreaking PTSD research ]

* General military health, including potential treatments for spinal cord injury, nutrition's impact on cognitive performance in pilots and the effectiveness of a family based reintegration program. [Read more ]

About the Military Health Research Forum

The MHRF is a scientific conference for presenting research studies funded by the DOD CDMRP Peer-Reviewed Medical, Gulf War Illness, and Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Programs. Research supported by these programs addresses the healthcare needs of the Armed Forces and their families, veterans and the American public.

The MHRF brings together scientists, clinicians, consumer advocates, policymakers and the military to learn about research and product development advancements supported by the host programs. The conference includes invited presentations by noted scientists, educational sessions on topics of general interest and poster and symposium presentations by CDMRP-funded investigators across programs. The MHRF is designed to promote the exchange of ideas to facilitate research progress, the development of new partnerships and the translation of research findings into field-ready methods and products.

About the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs

In the early 1990s, the breast cancer advocacy community launched a grassroots effort to raise public awareness of the crucial need for increased funding of breast cancer research. Beginning in fiscal year 1992 (FY92), Congress appropriated $25 million for breast cancer research to be managed by the Department of Defense. The following year, Congress continued to respond to the advocacy movement and appropriated $210 million for breast cancer research, marking the beginning of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. The CDMRP represents a unique partnership among the public, Congress and the military. Because of continued and expanded advocacy efforts, the CDMRP has grown to encompass multiple targeted programs and has received more than $5.3 billion in total appropriations for all CDMRP programs from its inception in FY93 through FY09.

Please visit www.cdmrpcures.org/press for updates on the Military Health Research Forum.