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

John B. Harley, Saiju Pyarajan, Elizabeth S. Partan, Lauren Epstein, Jason A. Wertheim, Abhinav Diwan, Christopher W. Woods, Victoria Davey, Sharlene Blair, Dennis H. Clark, Kenneth M. Kaufman, Shagufta Khan, Iouri Chepelev, Alexander Devine, Perry Cameron, Monica F. Mccann, Mary Cloud B. Ammons, Devin D. Bolz, Jane K. Battles, Jeffrey L. CurtisMark Holodniy, Vincent C. Marconi, Charles D. Searles, David O. Beenhouwer, Sheldon T. Brown, Jonathan P. Moorman, Zhi Q. Yao, Maria C. Rodriguez-Barradas, Shyam Mohapatra, Osmara Y. Molina De Rodriguez, Emerson B. Padiernos, Eric R. Mcindoo, Emily Price, Hailey M. Burgoyne, Ian Robey, Dawn C. Schwenke, Carey L. Shive, Ronald M. Przygodzki, Rachel B. Ramoni, Holly K. Krull, Robert A. Bonomo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberofac641
JournalOpen Forum Infectious Diseases
Volume9
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2022

Keywords

  • COVID-19 sequence analysis
  • Veterans health
  • biological specimen banks
  • communicable diseases
  • data warehousing
  • government agencies
  • health policy
  • public health surveillance

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