IPA: VA Million Veteran Program

The CMC VA Medical Center will cover 20% of Dr. Vickers-Smith’s effort so she may continue work on this project. The assignment will require Dr. Vickers-Smith to use data from VINCI and GENESIS to refine phenotypes for substance use behaviors and disorders and analyze them in relation to the genotype data available currently for 450,000 Veterans in the Million Veteran Program. She will also contribute to scientific presentations and publications of the findings, including meetings within the VA that focus on improving the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders among Veterans. The position is for a statistician to work in VINCI and GENESIS, conducting analyses for the Million Veteran Program. At the present time, there is not adequate statistical expertise at our site to enable us to conduct the MVP research for which we are being funded by the VA. The benefits of adding expertise is that it will enable us to use more effectively the valuable genetic and phenotypic information available through MVP to improve the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol, opioid, and nicotine use disorders in Veterans. Dr. Vickers-Smith will return to 100% employment at the University of Kentucky once the assignment is completed.