Truman VA Medical Research Foundation

05/13/2025

The Board of Directors and I want to congratulate retired US Marine, Pat Holt, as the winner of our autographed Kansas City Chiefs Chris Jones helmet for National VA Research Week!

The best part about having a table in the lobby is the ability to engage with the Veterans, explain the importance of VA research, and learn about what health issues they would like to see research on. It has been an exciting week here at the Truman VA Medical Center and I want to thank all our Veterans and their friends and family for helping us celebrate VA research.
Last week is always special to me as it is a dedicated time to speak with our Veterans about VA Research and learn about what topics they would like to see pursued at the hospital. I am truly thankful to everyone that stopped by our table and helped us celebrate.

A very special thank you to our sponsors for last week:
Nifong Hy-Vee - for the very tasty treats over the week.
Cleek’s Home Furnishings - for the use of the TV this week. The digital display was a major upgrade to presenting our researchers’ posters.
Andy’s Frozen Custard - for the delicious frozen custard. Always a big hit.
Rusty Drewing Utomotive Group & BMW of Columbia- for the autographed KC Chiefs Chris Jones helmet.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) : Missouri American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5, Jefferson City Missouri Missouri Veterans Commission Veterans United Foundation Columbia MO VA Medical CenterRusty Drewing Toyota Rusty Drewing & Development - US Department of Vete -Vee

05/07/2025

It’s Day 3 of our National VA Research Week celebration!!🎈🎉

Our friends at BMW of Columbia & Rusty Drewing Automotive graciously donated an autographed KC Chiefs Chris Jones helmet. Our treat sponsor for today is Andy’s Frozen Custard 🍦🍨always a big hit with our Veterans. Thank you to our sponsors and helping us celebrate 100 years of VA Research nationwide.

There is still time to help us celebrate the 100th Anniversary of VA Research as we will be in the lobby all week long, May 5th - May 9th.

A very special thank you to our sponsors for the week:
Nifong Hy-Vee
Cleek’s Home Funishungs
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Rusty Drewing Automotive Group & BMW of Columbia

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) : Missouri American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5, Jefferson City Missouri Missouri Veterans Commission Veterans United Foundation Columbia MO VA Medical Center Rusty Drewing Toyota Rusty Drewing Research & Development - US Department of Veterans Affairs Hy-Vee Hy-Vee

05/06/2025

Day 2 of our Celebration!!!!

The best part about having a table in the lobby is the ability to engage with the Veterans, explain the importance of VA research, and learn about what health issues they would like to see research on. Yesterday, one of our poster creators stopped by the table. This young researcher is working in our PTSD/sleep disorders lab on some really exciting studies. Thank you future Dr. M. Parikh for you dedication to our veterans at Truman VA Medical Center.

There is still time to help us celebrate the 100th Anniversary of VA Research as we will be in the lobby all week long, May 5th - May 9th.

A very special thank you to our sponsors for the week:
Nifong Hy-Vee
Cleek’s Home Funishungs
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Rusty Drewing Utomotive Group & BMW of Columbia

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) : Missouri American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5, Jefferson City MissouriMissouri Veterans CommissionVeterans United FoundationColumbia MO VA Medical CenterRusty Drewing Toyota Rusty Drewing Research & Development - US Department of Veterans Affairs Hy-Vee Hy-Vee

05/05/2025

WE ARE CELEBRATING NATIONAL VA RESEARCH WEEK @ TRUMAN VA MEDICAL CENTER!l

Please stop by our table in the lobby of the Truman VA Medical Center to learn about the exciting research being conducted on station and help us celebrate the 100th Anniversary of VA Research.

A very special thank you to our sponsors for the week:
Nifong Hy-Vee
Cleek’s Home Funishungs
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Rusty Drewing Utomotive Group & BMW of Columbia

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) : Missouri American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5, Jefferson City MissouriMissouri Veterans CommissionVeterans United FoundationColumbia MO VA Medical CenterRusty Drewing Toyota Rusty Drewing Research & Development - US Department of Veterans Affairs Hy-Vee Hy-Vee

03/31/2025

🎉 Celebrating a Milestone in VA Research! 🎉

The Truman VA Medical Research Foundation is thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research study, marking a significant contribution to the advancement of healthcare for our nation's veterans. Congratulations to Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital researchers: Drs. Aroor, Kelty, Sharma, Jia, Whaley-Connell, Rector, Manriqu-Acevedo, and Lastra, and technicians Naz and Hulse.

Aroor, A. R., Naz, H., Hulse, J., Kelty, T. J., Sharma, N., Jia, G., Whaley-Connell, A., Rector, R. S., Manrique-Acevedo, C., & Lastra, G. (2025). Vascular smooth muscle cell TG2 promotes DOCA/Salt-Induced arterial stiffness and hypertension [Research Letter]. Hypertension, e31 e33. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.23518

In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of VA Research, this publication is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and groundbreaking work that has shaped veteran care over the last century. From pioneering new treatments to improving quality of life, VA research continues to play a critical role in supporting those who served our country.

👏 Here's to 100 years of progress, and to many more years of discovery, impact, and service to our veterans!

LetterOriginally Published 19 February 2025Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell TG2 Promotes DOCA/Salt-Induced Arterial Stiffness and HypertensionAnnayya R. Aroor https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9203-4280, Huma Naz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1989-7466, Jack Hulse, Taylor J. Kelty, Neekun Sharma https://orcid.or...

03/04/2025

Yesterday, the National Association of Research and Education Foundations, which the TVAMRF is a proud member, released "VA Research at Risk: Veterans & Leaders Demand Immediate Action.” The release details the urgent challenges facing veterans’ research, specifically calling out the federal hiring freeze, workforce reductions, and funding constraints as obstacles that are threatening critical clinical trials and medical advancements for veterans. It includes a call to action from prominent leaders in the mil/vet community.

NAVREF thanks leaders from Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for their support on this release and lending their voice to the call to protect and safeguard lifesaving research for veterans.

I urge you to take a look at this press release: https://navref.org/Advocacy/13469893 and please like, lift up, and repost.

The VA Research Program, a cornerstone of veterans' healthcare, is facing unprecedented challenges. A federal hiring freeze, workforce reductions, and funding cuts threaten to disrupt critical research and clinical trials that veterans rely on today.

01/16/2025

Exciting News!!! 🎉 The White House has highlighted NAVREF’s collaboration with the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) in their latest fact sheet on the Biden hashtag initiative!

This partnership is set to enhance the placement of prostate cancer hashtag across the nation, improving health outcomes for hashtag . As part of the $65 million Veterans’ Health Initiative, PCF is contributing $50,000 to help hashtag pilot a data dashboard that will streamline the identification of communities where veterans can benefit the most from these crucial studies.

https://lnkd.in/eAmg33w5

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/15/fact-sheet-marking-historic-progress-the-biden-cancer-moonshot-convenes-mission-report-and-announces-new-government-and-private-sector-actions-to-accelerate-progress-against-cancer/

Nearly three years after the reignition of the Biden Cancer Moonshot, the work to end cancer as we know it has had a direct impact on American lives.

12/30/2024

A huge "THANK YOU, Mid-Missouri" on behalf of the TVAMRF during our 2024 CoMoGives campaign for our Education Fund. I am truly thankful for everyone that has contributed to both the TVAMRF and all of the deserving charities participating in the 2024 CoMoGives campaign this year. If you would still like to donate, the CoMoGives campaign ends tomorrow evening, December 31 at 11:59.59 CST. Thank you for supporting our Truman VA Medical Center researchers, our Missouri Veterans, all of the CoMoGives charities this season.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) : Missouri University of Missouri Veterans Center American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5, Jefferson City Missouri DAV Missouri Missouri Veterans Commission

12/17/2024

So what does the TVAMRF use its Education Fund for?

The Truman VA Medical Research Foundation's Education Fund was used this past year to support educational initiatives that enhance the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals. Specific uses of the fund included:
1. Guest Lecturers: Inviting gene therapy expert, Dr. Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, MD, PhD to travel from the University of Eastern Finland to lecture at the MU NextGen Discovery Lecture Series in November. His lecture’s specialized topics was relevant to improving patient care and advancing medical research at both Truman VA Medical Center and MU.
2. Textbooks and Study Materials: Provided textbooks, reference materials, and other educational resources to support the study and development of Nurse Coordinators to enhance their competencies, leadership skills, and ability to coordinate patient care effectively.
These efforts aim to promote professional development, improve patient outcomes, and ensure high-quality care within the VA’s system of clinical trials for our Veterans. Please help support our CoMoGives.com campaign to raise $3,000.00 to help us continue to inspire and develop the next generation of VA research here in Columbia, MO.

12/03/2024

What has the Truman VA Medical Research Foundation's Education Fund done in 2024?
1) The TVAMRF hosted National VA Research Week in the lobby of the Truman VA in May to build support for VA research and showcase our wonderful researchers.
2) Hosted Dr. Seppo Ylä-Herttuala from the University of Eastern Finland to lecture at the University of Missouri NextGen Discovery Lecture Series in November 2024.
We hope to do so much more in 2025 and that is why the CoMoGives campaign is so important for us. Our Education Fund is completely funded via donations so every little bit helps. Please use the CoMoGives website at https://www.comogives.com/.../Missouri-Foundation-For... or the QR code in the picture to help us meet our goal. Thank you and Happy Holidays.

12/03/2024

It's Giving Tuesday and for our Federal friends, please think about donating via our CFC Charities page to help grow the TVAMRF Education Fund. Thank you.

06/14/2024

Please join Truman VA's PTSD Clinical Team for a viewing of the documentary, "HERE.IS.BETTER." at 1 p.m. Friday, June 21, in the medical center's Auditorium, Room 213. The documentary combines the inspiring stories of men and women military veterans overcoming PTSD with breakthrough new treatments. Veterans, family members, caregivers, staff, and those interested in learning more about PTSD and treatment options that can make a difference are invited to attend.