VA/DoD Collaboration Guidebook for Healthcare Research
Over the past 20 years, there have been numerous legislative
efforts to encourage and increase collaboration between the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department
of Defense (DoD), covering issues from the construction of
military and VA healthcare facilities to the sharing of electronic
medical records. Collaboration is one of three guiding
principles of the VA/DoD Joint Strategic Plan for 2009-2011.
Working together, VA's Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) and the DoD have produced the VA/DoD Collaboration Guidebook for Healthcare Research to facilitate collaborative human subject healthcare research
between VA and the DoD. The Guidebook provides suggestions and guidance for:
- Identifying collaborators with common research interests/goals,
- Summaries of administrative and funding mechanisms, and
- Procedures and protocols needed for collaborative endeavors.
In addition, the Guidebook offers:
- Suggestions for developing and submitting a
proposal,
- Examples of successful and unsuccessful
research collaborations,
- List of commonly used acronyms, and
- Links to additional resources.
The authors also provide tips from experienced
researchers on how to maximize available resources,
and make recommendations for future
consideration. Researchers and clinicians from
VA and the DoD will find the Guidebook valuable
in collaborative research efforts for the continuing
benefit of our service members, Veterans, and
both healthcare systems.
