Gulf War Illness Research Group

03/16/2026

Drs. Sullivan and Klimas warn about chronic health risks from oil well fires similar to those suffered by Gulf War veterans in the media story below:

Israeli strikes on oil depots in Iran have created hazardous conditions in the country's capital.

02/25/2026

This Friday, February 27th at 12 PM EST, Nova Southeastern University is hosting their annual Sustained Homeostatic Imbalance due to Environmental Exposure Linked to Deployment (SHIELD) Conference.

This virtual event is free to attend and open to everyone. This year's event will be reviewing advancements made in GWI research, discuss the ICD-10 code that went into effect, and allow attendees to hear from researchers and clinicians. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about the event, you can follow this link to the original Facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1236473225357506&set=a.396196272718543

Or, you can join the meeting directly on Friday via this zoom link:
https://nova.zoom.us/j/81516644929

The 2026 SHIELD Conference is scheduled for February 27th at 12:00 PM ET via Zoom. SHIELD stands for Sustained Homeostatic Imbalance due to Environmental Exposure Linked to Deployment.
This event will provide an overview of the new ICD-10 code for Gulf War Illness (GWI), from the approval process to its impact on veterans. You will hear from experts in the field regarding current GWI research results, ongoing studies, and the future of this work. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to ask questions directly to leading researchers and clinicians in this field.
Meeting Link: https://nova.zoom.us/j/81516644929

02/20/2026

Are you a Gulf War Veteran with Gulf War Illness and other chronic health conditions like Parkinson’s disease, MS, diabetes, or heart disease? This project targets individuals who may not have qualified for previous studies. If you're a Gulf War veteran with any of the conditions below, please give us a call or fill out the interest form to see if you are eligible for this one day study!

https://redcap.bumc.bu.edu/surveys/?s=J4PHWAWWNME77DK8

02/15/2026

Last week, members of our team presented posters at the 54th annual International Neuropsychological Society conference that was held in Philadelphia, PA. We're so grateful for the opportunity to share our research and learn from our colleagues!

12/19/2025

We are delighted to share the news that Canada has now officially recognized GWI as a medical disorder due to the new ICD-10 code in the US that Dr. Sullivan and a small working group of clinicians, researchers and veteran advocates worked to get approved this year!

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/canada-formally-recognizes-gulf-war-illness-after-years-of-lobbying-by-veterans/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOyY3tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeT1iBrLMSwDfrGSfj6cDPqIkxjygf9hEYnsm_DAg9obocdKysMpBVw0P22SA_aem_8fH9EenvnlvBjO2nymIdfg

The government of Canada says it has formally recognized Gulf War Illness as an official diagnosis, making those who suffer from the condition eligible for disability benefits – something veterans have been requesting for years.

12/19/2025

As 2025 comes to an end, we wanted to say thank you to all of our amazing participants, advocates, and all of you that support our research. Here is a copy of our Winter 2025 Newsletter and links to some of the resources! Thank you again and Happy Holidays!

BUSPH ICD-10 Code Article:
https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2025/new-diagnostic-code-for-gulf-war-illness-marks-major-step-forward-for-veteran-care-and-research/

Continuing Medical Education Course for Providers:
https://ucsd.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=0&EID=15332

War Related Illness and Injury Study Center:
https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/

91 Outcomes:
http://www.91outcomes.com/

Veterans for Common Sense: Veterans For Common Sense
https://veteransforcommonsense.org/

Veterans Voice Network: Veterans Voice Network
https://veteransvoicenetwork.org/

11/20/2025

Dr. Sullivan presented our recent GWI biomarker and brain imaging results last week in Australia at the Griffith University Research Innovation and Discovery (RID) conference led by Dr. Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik. Dr. Sullivan was also honored to meet with Australian GW veterans who attended the meeting.

11/11/2025

We honor our Veteran's today and everyday for their service. Special thank you to our participants for your continued dedication and support in our research! This important work cannot be done without your contributions.

11/03/2025

The GWI ICD-10 Code Consortium Members, led by Dr. Beatrice Golomb, are happy to share a new online, free Continuing Medical Education (CME) training module for primary care providers and other health providers of GW veterans at the link below. For veterans, this training can be shared with your care providers.

UC San Diego Continuing Professional Development, Gulf War Illness: What Every Clinician Needs to Know, 9/28/2025 6:30:00 AM - 9/30/2028 6:30:00 PM, This activity equips medical providers and administrators with the knowledge to deliver better care for veterans with Gulf War illness (GWI). You’ll ...

09/12/2025

Gulf War Illness is now officially recognized and validated with its own ICD diagnostic code, which is the medical system doctors use worldwide to recognize and record illnesses. This is a big step forward for veteran care and research efforts, with more progress to come.

Kimberly Sullivan, along with a group of clinical researchers and veterans, advocated for this official recognition, which will support better diagnosis, treatment and understanding of Gulf War illness.

08/21/2025

We are still looking for some Gulf War veterans without Gulf War Illness to participate in our paid brain imaging study. If interested, you can contact us at 617-358-1717 or bbrain@bu.edu.
You can also visit the link below:
https://rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/neuroinflammation_in_gwi

We are looking for Gulf War veterans without Gulf War Illness to participate in our paid brain imaging study. If you are interested in participating, please visit the webpage linked below or contact us at 617-358-1717.

https://rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/neuroinflammation_in_gwi

06/03/2025

Our team had a great time at this year’s Science Symposium hosted by the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society! We are grateful for this opportunity and are excited to continue sharing more findings from our ongoing research.