As part of the Clinton Administration's commitment to better
understand the illnesses reported by Gulf War veterans, the
Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs announced the award
of $7.3 million for 12 research studies to government, non-
government and academic institutions on possible causes and
treatment of Gulf War veterans' illnesses.
Last spring, the departments sought proposals from
government and non-government applicants including universities,
hospitals, and research institutions on:
epidemiological studies of health problems of Persian Gulf
veterans related to their service in the Gulf War;
health effects of pyridostigmine bromide use, alone and in
combination with other chemicals; and,
clinical studies and other research on the causes, modes of
transmission and appropriate treatments for Gulf War-related
illnesses.
The Broad Agency Announcement issued last May resulted in
the submission of 111 scientific proposals. From these
submissions, the departments selected 12 proposed investigations
after conducting an exhaustive, independent peer-review process.
The final selection was made on the basis of scientific merit and
program relevancy.
The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
(USAMRMC) made the awards on behalf of the Departments of
Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services.
Note: A list of the FY 1996 Persian Gulf War Illnesses Research Awards follows.
FY 1996 Persian Gulf War Illness Research Awards
No. Grantee City State Principal Project Title and Grant Period
Investigator Summary Value of Performance
1. Klemm Analysis Washington D.C. Rebecca J. Epidemiological $779K 1Jun96-31Jan99
Group, Inc Klemm, PhD Studies Persian Gulf
1785 Massachusetts War Illnesses, Persian
Avenue, N.W. Gulf Women's Health
Linkage Study
Summary: This
research addresses the
effects of Gulf War
service on military
women's health. The
studies will compare
the incidence,
prevalence, general
health outcomes, and
risks of women
deployed in the Gulf
War theater of
operations with Gulf
War era women who were
not deployed to the Gulf.
2. Georgetown Washington D.C. Daniel Dysregulation of the $971K 6May96-6June96
University Medical Clauw, MD Stress Response in the
Center Persian Gulf Syndrome
Grant/Contract Summary: This study
Office will attempt to show
2115 Wisconsin that abnormalities in
Avenue, N.W. 108 some of the
neurohormones
important in human
response to stress are
at least partly
responsible for some
of the unexplained
symptoms suffered by
some Gulf War veterans
as well as symptoms in
other conditions such
as chronic fatigue
syndrome,
fibromyalgia,
somatoform disorder,
and multiple chemical
sensitivity.
3. Boston University Boston Mass Roberta F. Neuropsychological $353K 1May96-1Jun99
Medical Campus . White PhD Functioning in Persian
801 E. Concord Gulf War Veterans
Street, Building 560 Summary: This
research will study
whether Gulf War
veterans show
cognitive impairments
suggestive of central
nervous system damage
at a greater rate than
veterans who were not
deployed to the Gulf.
4. University of North Chapel Hill N.C. David H. Effects of $354K 1Jul96-31Jul98
Carolina Overstreet, Pyridostigmine in
PhD Flinders - Line Rats
Differing in
Cholinergic
Sensitivity
Summary: This
research will study
the possibility that
some of the
individuals reporting
adverse reactions to
pyridostigmine may
have had predisposing
genetic conditions
that made them more
sensitive to
pyridostigmine and
contributed to
symptoms of multiple
chemical sensitivity
after exposure to
pyridostigmine.
5. Lovelace Biomedical Albuquerque N.M. Hsu-Chi Characterization of $283K 7Jun96-6Jul98
and Environmental Yeh, PhD Emissions from Heaters
Research Institute, Burning Leaded Diesel
Inc. Fuel in Unvented Tents
P.O. Box 5890 Summary: This
research will provide
detailed information
on pollutants produced
in unvented tents from
heaters that burn
leaded diesel fuels.
This information is
needed to assess
potential exposure of
service personnel who
served in the Gulf War.
6. March of Sacramento Calif. John A. Feasibility of $427K 1Jun96-30Jun98
Dimes/California Harris, MD Investigating Whether
Birth Defects There is a
Monitoring Program Relationship Between
3031 F. Street, Birth Defects and
Suite 200 Service in the Gulf
War Summary: This
research will attempt
to determine if all
children born to Gulf
War veterans living in
California can be
identified and if
congenital birth
defects diagnosed
during the first year
of life can be identified
as well.
7. University of Texas Dallas Texas Ronald G. Fatigue in Persian $554K 15Jun96-14Jul98
Southwestern Haller, MD Gulf Syndrome -
Medical Center at Physiologic Mechanisms
Dallas Summary: This
research addresses the
symptom of abnormal
fatigue in Gulf War
veterans. The study
will examine the
possibility that
mechanisms used by
muscle cells to use
oxygen and produce
energy for work may be
impaired in patients
suffering abnormal
muscle fatigue and the
inability to exercise.
8. University of Gainesville Fla . Franz van Neurobehavioral and $934K 1May96-1Jun99
Florida Haaren, PhD Immunological Toxicity
Box 115500 of Pyridostigmine,
219 Grinter Hall Permethrin and DEET in
Male and Female rats
Summary: This multi-
disciplinary study
using male and female
rats will examine any
neurobehavioral
toxicity and immune
response alterations
after exposure to
pyridostigmine
bromide, permethrin
and DEET alone and in
combinations. Human
lymphocyte cells will
also be studied for
inhibition of immune
response as a result
of exposures to these
materials.
9. Infectious Disease Seattle Wash Steven G. Diagnostic Antigens of $611K 1Jun96-31May98
Research Institute . Reed, PhD Leishmania tropica
1124 Columbia, Summary: This
Suite 464 research will attempt
to develop a sensitive
method to detect
infection with
Leishmania tropica, or
related species, in
military personnel.
10. King's College London United Simon A Controlled $865K 1Jun96-30Jun99
School of Medicine Kingdom Wessely, MD Epidemiological and
and the Institute of Clinical Study into
Psychiatry the Effect of Gulf
103 Denmark Hill War Service on
Servicemen and Women
of the United Kingdom
Armed Forces
Summary: This
research addresses
the prevalence of
unexplained
illnesses, including
chronic fatigue-like
symptoms, in members
of the United Kingdom
Armed Forces who were
deployed to the
Persian Gulf during
the Gulf War and who
have served, and are
serving in Bosnia.
11. VA Connecticut West Haven Conn. Steven Psychological and $264K 7Jun96-6Jul99
Healthcare System Southwick, Neuro-biological
MD Consequences of the
Gulf War Experience
Summary: This
research will
continue to follow
the course of
symptoms of Post-
Traumatic Stress
Disorder in a
population of Gulf
War veterans. This
study of how such
symptoms, as well as
memory function,
change over time in
the veterans will
lead to a better
understanding of PTSD
and the elements of
risk that would cause
and continue PTSD
symptoms over time.
12. Trustees of the Philadelphia Pa. Krista Evaluation of Muscle $906K 15Jun96-14Nov99
University of Vandenborne, Function in Persian
Pennsylvania PhD Gulf Veterans
Summary: This
research addresses the
causes ongoing chronic
fatigue and muscle
weakness in Gulf War
veterans with
unexplained illnesses.
The study will be a
comprehensive,
multidisciplinary
approach to evaluate
abnormalities in
skeletal muscle
function in Gulf War
veterans.
Note: In October 1994, President Clinton signed into law legislation (Public Law
103-337, Section 722) which provides for this independent and competitively-bid,
peer-reviewed research on the possible health consequences of service in
Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War.
