Dataset Information

The US Department of Veterans Affairs Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-Threatening Diseases (VA SHIELD): A Biorepository Addressing National Health Threats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has demonstrated the need to share data and biospecimens broadly to optimize clinical outcomes for US military Veterans.

Methods

In response, the Veterans Health Administration established VA SHIELD (Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-threatening Diseases), a comprehensive biorepository of specimens and clinical data from affected Veterans to advance research and public health surveillance and to improve diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities.

Results

VA SHIELD now comprises 12 sites collecting de-identified biospecimens from US Veterans affected by SARS-CoV-2. In addition, 2 biorepository sites, a data processing center, and a coordinating center have been established under the direction of the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development. Phase 1 of VA SHIELD comprises 34 157 samples. Of these, 83.8% had positive tests for SARS-CoV-2, with the remainder serving as contemporaneous controls. The samples include nasopharyngeal swabs (57.9%), plasma (27.9%), and sera (12.5%). The associated clinical and demographic information available permits the evaluation of biological data in the context of patient demographics, clinical experience and management, vaccinations, and comorbidities.

Conclusions

VA SHIELD is representative of US national diversity with a significant potential to impact national healthcare. VA SHIELD will support future projects designed to better understand SARS-CoV-2 and other emergent healthcare crises. To the extent possible, VA SHIELD will facilitate the discovery of diagnostics and therapeutics intended to diminish COVID-19 morbidity and mortality and to reduce the impact of new emerging threats to the health of US Veterans and populations worldwide.

SUBMITTER: Harley JB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9801224 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The US Department of Veterans Affairs Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-Threatening Diseases (VA SHIELD): A Biorepository Addressing National Health Threats.

Harley John B JB Pyarajan Saiju S Partan Elizabeth S ES Epstein Lauren L Wertheim Jason A JA Diwan Abhinav A Woods Christopher W CW Davey Victoria V Blair Sharlene S Clark Dennis H DH Kaufman Kenneth M KM Khan Shagufta S Chepelev Iouri I Devine Alexander A Cameron Perry P McCann Monica F MF Ammons Mary Cloud B MCB Bolz Devin D DD Battles Jane K JK Curtis Jeffrey L JL Holodniy Mark M Marconi Vincent C VC Searles Charles D CD Beenhouwer David O DO Brown Sheldon T ST Moorman Jonathan P JP Yao Zhi Q ZQ Rodriguez-Barradas Maria C MC Mohapatra Shyam S Molina De Rodriguez Osmara Y OY Padiernos Emerson B EB McIndoo Eric R ER Price Emily E Burgoyne Hailey M HM Robey Ian I Schwenke Dawn C DC Shive Carey L CL Przygodzki Ronald M RM Ramoni Rachel B RB Krull Holly K HK Bonomo Robert A RA

Open forum infectious diseases 20221214 12

<h4>Background</h4>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has demonstrated the need to share data and biospecimens broadly to optimize clinical outcomes for US military Veterans.<h4>Methods</h4>In response, the Veterans Health Administration established VA SHIELD (Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-threatening Diseases), a comprehensive biorepository of specimens and clinical ...[more]

PMID: 36601554

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Dataset Information

The US Department of Veterans Affairs Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-Threatening Diseases (VA SHIELD): A Biorepository Addressing National Health Threats.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The US Department of Veterans Affairs Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-Threatening Diseases (VA SHIELD): A Biorepository Addressing National Health Threats.

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