Million Veteran Program: A mega-biobank to study genetic influences on health and disease

TLDR

MVP supports multiple ongoing research projects and is building infrastructure for broad future studies. The study aims to establish the MVP as an observational cohort and mega‑biobank to facilitate precision medicine research, with a focus on diverse racial representation. Data are collected through questionnaires, VA electronic health records, and blood samples, and MVP is linked to multiple research projects to support future studies. By August 2015, MVP had enrolled 397,104 veterans, genotyped 199,348 participants—92 % male, 55 % aged 50–69, with 77.2 % white and 13.5 % African American participants.

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe the design and ongoing conduct of the Million Veteran Program (MVP), as an observational cohort study and mega-biobank in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.Study Design and SettingData are being collected from participants using questionnaires, the VA electronic health record, and a blood sample for genomic and other testing. Several ongoing projects are linked to MVP, both as peer-reviewed research studies and as activities to help develop an infrastructure for future, broad-based research uses.ResultsFormal planning for MVP commenced in 2009; the protocol was approved in 2010, and enrollment began in 2011. As of August 3, 2015, and with a steady state of ≈50 recruiting sites nationwide, N = 397,104 veterans have been enrolled. Among N = 199,348 with currently available genotyping data, most participants (as expected) are male (92.0%) between the ages of 50 and 69 years (55.0%). On the basis of self-reported race, white (77.2%) and African American (13.5%) populations are well represented.ConclusionsBy helping to promote the future integration of genetic testing in health care delivery, including clinical decision making, the MVP is designed to contribute to the development of precision medicine.