
While we know that genes determine how tall we are, the
color of our eyes or hair, etc., genes may also determine how likely we are to
develop illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. Using the data
gathered through the MVP, the VA hopes to gain a better understanding of how
our genetic make-up affects our health. This research may provide answers to
questions such as why a treatment works well for some veterans but not for
others or why some veterans are more likely to develop certain illnesses.
Hopefully, this will lead to better, more effective ways to treat and/or
prevent various medical conditions.
In addition to genetic connections, the VA also hopes to
find causative relationships between various medical conditions and the
military environment and individual lifestyle. By using the MVP data to
identify patterns, the VA hopes to make new discoveries that will enable the
military to make changes to better ensure service member and veteran health.
For example, the VA recently announced that they were
beginning four new studies using MVP data. The first will look at how risk
factors for cardiovascular (heart) disease are affected by genetics and how
these risk factors differ among various populations. The second study will use
MVP data to look at the genetic risk factors associated with the chronic use of
tobacco, alcohol, and opiods. The third study will look at how genes affect
both the risk and progression of kidney disease, a major cause of death among
veterans. Finally, the last new study will examine how genetics affect obesity
and diabetes, metabolic conditions which often lead to heart disease, in the
hope of developing new, personalized treatments.
While the Million Veteran Program is a long-term project
designed to make a difference in the future lives of military members and
veterans and while the positive results of this program may not directly
benefit your life, we highly encourage all veterans to volunteer to participate
in this great, and potentially life-changing, program. It is a great way to
make a true difference in the lives of others, and participation is easy. It’s
simply a matter of donating a blood sample and providing health information.
For more information, visit www.research.va.gov/mvp.
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