Why CSP?
The Cooperative Studies Program (CSP) is an award-winning and internationally recognized research organization that is uniquely positioned to provide definitive evidence in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of serious physical and mental health conditions.
Through more than 200 clinical trials and observational studies, we’ve influenced how physicians treat patients in almost every major disease and health condition. Today, in more than 80 VA medical centers (VAMCs) across the country, investigators like you—among the best scientists and clinicians in the country—are able to pursue their search for the safest and most effective ways to help Veterans and improve care for all patients.
This work continues as we develop innovative research methodologies and more efficient approaches to conducting studies and expand in areas such as informatics—all of which helps us to further shape clinical decision-making and improve health care for Veterans and all Americans.
Resources and Capabilities
We understand the complexity of conducting clinical research—we’ve been running large-scale, multisite studies for more than seven decades—and our goal is to work with you to find answers to challenging clinical questions. The infrastructure and resources CSP offers to VA investigators include:
- Data and statistical coordinating centers
- Epidemiological research centers
- A pharmacy coordinating center
- A DNA bank, biorepository, and pharmacogenomics analysis laboratory
- Enrollment sites at VAMCs throughout the country
With a large network that includes VA clinician-investigators, expert statisticians, epidemiologists, pharmacists, regulatory professionals, and project managers, our approach is quality-based and designed to quickly recruit and enroll eligible participants.
Collaborative Model
CSP collaborates both internally with scientists at VAMCs across the country and externally with leaders in clinical research that include the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, academic medical centers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and nonprofit organizations. These collaborations have even extended internationally to allow the best minds in science and medicine to work together to maximize a study’s impact.
High-Impact Contributions and Solutions
Findings from CSP studies are consistently published in high-impact, peer-reviewed medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association. Our research contributions have included:
- Showing that aspirin reduces heart attacks and deaths in patients with unstable chest pain
- Establishing efficacy for a shingles vaccine and helping to obtain FDA approval
- Demonstrating the effectiveness of Deep Brain Stimulation for patients with Parkinson’s disease
- Enabling VA’s Million Veteran Program—the largest VA genomic research effort—to be a leader in personalized medicine
Download our Investigator Guidelines here.
