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Enhancing the health and well-being of our Veterans through medical discovery and innovation.

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Get to Know WIVR

The Western Institute for Veterans Research (WIVR) is a nonprofit corporation that facilitates externally sponsored research and educational programs within the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System.

We work with a variety of public and private funding partners to improve the health and well-being of Veterans.

What We Fund.

Our Research

WIVR is at the forefront of a wide range of studies—from cardiology and cancer to Gulf War Illness and health screening—working tirelessly to find effective treatments and cures for Veterans.

Explore Our Research
  • Close-up of two elderly people holding hands, one wearing a blue shirt and the other a white patterned shirt.

    PREVENTABLE: Statins for Healthy Aging

    PREVENTABLE is one of the largest clinical research studies in adults 75 years or older. The goal of the study is to learn if taking a statin could help older adults live well for longer by preventing dementia, disability, or heart disease. A statin is a medication commonly used to lower cholesterol.

  • A table with plates of various healthy dishes, including grilled chicken, a salmon salad with mixed greens, roasted vegetables, avocado dip with raw veggies and flatbread, drinks, and a slice of avocado toast, alongside a small bouquet of flowers.

    Effect of Diet on Gulf War Illness

    This study examines how different levels of FODMAP (Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, and Mono-saccharides and Polyols) carbohydrates affect symptoms of Gulf War Illness in Veterans with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Participants will be randomly assigned, in a blinded parallel design, to one of two groups:

    1. a low-FODMAP diet, or

    2. a high-FODMAP diet.

    All participants will receive study-prepared meals for two weeks, keep daily food diaries, and provide stool samples for microbiome analysis.

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    REFLECTION: Early Cancer Detection Test

    The Reflection study enrolled over 900 Veterans who opted to be screened with Galleri, a multi-cancer early detection blood test which can detect the presence of 50+ cancers at time of blood draw. The purpose of this study is to understand the real-world experience of Galleri in clinical settings.

  • Colon Cancer Prevention Study

    FORTE: A Colorectal Cancer Prevention Trial

    FORTE is a colorectal cancer prevention study looking to answer the question: when should patients who had 1-2 small benign polyps (adenomatous polyps/adenomas) removed during colonoscopy have repeat surveillance colonoscopy?

  • Heart Failure, Impaired Kidney Function

    BalanceD-HF: Balancing Heart and Kidney Health.

    This study is investigating whether two medicines, balcinrenone and dapagliflozin, when used together, reduce the risk of a cardiac event in patients with diagnosed heart failure and impaired kidney function.

  • An elderly couple walking in a forested park during autumn, with trees shedding leaves in orange and yellow hues.

    AZURE-Outcomes

    This is a study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of AZD0780 in adults with clinical Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or who are at risk for a first ASCVD event and who have elevated LDL-C. AZD0780 is a small molecule that reduces the amount of LDL-C in the blood.

Elevate your research with WIVR.

Maximize Your Research Impact

WIVR is committed to ensuring more of your research dollars go directly to advancing your research, not overhead costs. We offer highly competitive IDC rates:

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Support Our Veterans

With WIVR, you support those who have courageously served the United States of America, providing them with the latest treatments and opportunities for clinical trials.

Optimize Your Funding

A dedicated team and local Board of Directors expertly manage your external research funds, enabling you to concentrate on what is most important—your research—while we take care of the logistics and paperwork.

Ready to launch a research study or clinical trial at the VA?

Contact Us
View Investigator Resources
  • Cropped photo of a doctor in a white coat and gloves holding a stethoscope and a surgical mask outdoors.

    Meet Our Team

    Dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of Veterans, our team works across a wide range of disciplines, including cancer research, cardiology, epidemiology, gastroenterology, pharmacotherapy, and more, to address the unique health challenges faced by Veterans.

  • About Us

    About Us

    The Western Institute for Veterans Research is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing research that enhances the health and well-being of Veterans. We work with a variety of public and private funding partners to conduct research and support programs within the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System.

  • Follow WIVR on LinkedIn

    Follow WIVR on LinkedIn

    Stay connected by following WIVR on LinkedIn, where we highlight the research, partnerships, and people shaping better health outcomes for Veterans. You’ll find updates on our current studies, Veterans’ research news, and opportunities to participate in studies or join our team.