Truman VA Medical Research Foundation

12/29/2025

This holiday season, I’m supporting a cause close to my heart: the Truman VA Medical Research Foundation’s Education Fund through the 2025 CoMoGives campaign.

The Education Fund helps provide:

Training and education for VA research staff
Support for students and early-career investigators
Resources that ultimately improve care and outcomes for our Veterans
By donating, you’re investing in the people and projects that advance Veteran-focused medical research right here in our community.

📅 CoMoGives 2025 runs through December 31, 2025 at 1159.
🎯 Our goal this year is $3,000.00:

If you’re able, please consider making a tax-deductible gift today:
🔗 https://www.comogives.com/organization/Missouri-Foundation-For-Medical-Research

Every donation—no matter the size—helps strengthen research and education that directly benefit those who served. Please share this post to help spread the word!

12/09/2025

Every breakthrough in Veterans’ healthcare starts with a spark — your support.
The Truman VA Medical Research Foundation powers innovative research that improves the health, recovery, and quality of life for our nation’s heroes. From advancing treatments for PTSD to improving heart and brain health, our work drives real change in VA healthcare every day.

Your donation helps researchers turn ideas into impact — for Veterans, and for the future of medicine.

Make a difference this season. Donate today to the Truman VA Medical Research Foundation and be part of the next discovery that changes a life. https://bit.ly/TVAMRFCoMoGives

12/02/2025

Yes, it’s . Yes, your newsfeed looks like a telethon had coffee. ☕💸

While everyone else is raising money for very good causes, we’re over here quietly helping scientists figure out how to beat heart disease, cancer, and other tough conditions that hit Veterans hard. “No pressure,” but your gift could help move a discovery from the lab to the exam room —and that’s the kind of plot twist we like to see.

If you’re only going to say “yes” to one more ask today, make it the one that directly supports medical research and education for the Veterans who live, work, and receive care right here in Mid Missouri.

Donate at https://bit.ly/TVAMRFCoMoGives and help us turn generosity into better care, better treatments, and better tomorrows for those who served.

11/05/2025

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Truman VA Medical Research Foundation, we would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Brian Sleeth. Thank you Brian for your dedication and steadfast diligence to Missouri’s Veterans!!🎉🎂🥳

11/04/2025

🚀 Exciting Announcement! 🚀
We're thrilled to unveil our brand new website! 🎉 With a sleek modern design and improved navigation, it's now easier than ever to explore everything Truman VA Medical Research Foundation has to offer. We are proud to partner with for our new site. Check it out today at tvamrf.org and let us know what you think!

10/03/2025

Fund knowledge to transform care for our veterans!

05/13/2025

The Board of Directors and I want to congratulate retired US Marine, Pat Holt, as the winner of our autographed Kansas City Chiefs Chris Jones helmet for National VA Research Week!

The best part about having a table in the lobby is the ability to engage with the Veterans, explain the importance of VA research, and learn about what health issues they would like to see research on. It has been an exciting week here at the Truman VA Medical Center and I want to thank all our Veterans and their friends and family for helping us celebrate VA research.
Last week is always special to me as it is a dedicated time to speak with our Veterans about VA Research and learn about what topics they would like to see pursued at the hospital. I am truly thankful to everyone that stopped by our table and helped us celebrate.

A very special thank you to our sponsors for last week:
Nifong Hy-Vee - for the very tasty treats over the week.
Cleek’s Home Furnishings - for the use of the TV this week. The digital display was a major upgrade to presenting our researchers’ posters.
Andy’s Frozen Custard - for the delicious frozen custard. Always a big hit.
Rusty Drewing Utomotive Group & BMW of Columbia- for the autographed KC Chiefs Chris Jones helmet.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) : Missouri American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5, Jefferson City Missouri Missouri Veterans Commission Veterans United Foundation Columbia MO VA Medical CenterRusty Drewing Toyota Rusty Drewing & Development - US Department of Vete -Vee

05/07/2025

It’s Day 3 of our National VA Research Week celebration!!🎈🎉

Our friends at BMW of Columbia & Rusty Drewing Automotive graciously donated an autographed KC Chiefs Chris Jones helmet. Our treat sponsor for today is Andy’s Frozen Custard 🍦🍨always a big hit with our Veterans. Thank you to our sponsors and helping us celebrate 100 years of VA Research nationwide.

There is still time to help us celebrate the 100th Anniversary of VA Research as we will be in the lobby all week long, May 5th - May 9th.

A very special thank you to our sponsors for the week:
Nifong Hy-Vee
Cleek’s Home Funishungs
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Rusty Drewing Automotive Group & BMW of Columbia

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) : Missouri American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5, Jefferson City Missouri Missouri Veterans Commission Veterans United Foundation Columbia MO VA Medical Center Rusty Drewing Toyota Rusty Drewing Research & Development - US Department of Veterans Affairs Hy-Vee Hy-Vee

05/06/2025

Day 2 of our Celebration!!!!

The best part about having a table in the lobby is the ability to engage with the Veterans, explain the importance of VA research, and learn about what health issues they would like to see research on. Yesterday, one of our poster creators stopped by the table. This young researcher is working in our PTSD/sleep disorders lab on some really exciting studies. Thank you future Dr. M. Parikh for you dedication to our veterans at Truman VA Medical Center.

There is still time to help us celebrate the 100th Anniversary of VA Research as we will be in the lobby all week long, May 5th - May 9th.

A very special thank you to our sponsors for the week:
Nifong Hy-Vee
Cleek’s Home Funishungs
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Rusty Drewing Utomotive Group & BMW of Columbia

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) : Missouri American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5, Jefferson City MissouriMissouri Veterans CommissionVeterans United FoundationColumbia MO VA Medical CenterRusty Drewing Toyota Rusty Drewing Research & Development - US Department of Veterans Affairs Hy-Vee Hy-Vee

05/05/2025

WE ARE CELEBRATING NATIONAL VA RESEARCH WEEK @ TRUMAN VA MEDICAL CENTER!l

Please stop by our table in the lobby of the Truman VA Medical Center to learn about the exciting research being conducted on station and help us celebrate the 100th Anniversary of VA Research.

A very special thank you to our sponsors for the week:
Nifong Hy-Vee
Cleek’s Home Funishungs
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Rusty Drewing Utomotive Group & BMW of Columbia

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) : Missouri American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5, Jefferson City MissouriMissouri Veterans CommissionVeterans United FoundationColumbia MO VA Medical CenterRusty Drewing Toyota Rusty Drewing Research & Development - US Department of Veterans Affairs Hy-Vee Hy-Vee

03/31/2025

🎉 Celebrating a Milestone in VA Research! 🎉

The Truman VA Medical Research Foundation is thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research study, marking a significant contribution to the advancement of healthcare for our nation's veterans. Congratulations to Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital researchers: Drs. Aroor, Kelty, Sharma, Jia, Whaley-Connell, Rector, Manriqu-Acevedo, and Lastra, and technicians Naz and Hulse.

Aroor, A. R., Naz, H., Hulse, J., Kelty, T. J., Sharma, N., Jia, G., Whaley-Connell, A., Rector, R. S., Manrique-Acevedo, C., & Lastra, G. (2025). Vascular smooth muscle cell TG2 promotes DOCA/Salt-Induced arterial stiffness and hypertension [Research Letter]. Hypertension, e31 e33. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.23518

In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of VA Research, this publication is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and groundbreaking work that has shaped veteran care over the last century. From pioneering new treatments to improving quality of life, VA research continues to play a critical role in supporting those who served our country.

👏 Here's to 100 years of progress, and to many more years of discovery, impact, and service to our veterans!

LetterOriginally Published 19 February 2025Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell TG2 Promotes DOCA/Salt-Induced Arterial Stiffness and HypertensionAnnayya R. Aroor https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9203-4280, Huma Naz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1989-7466, Jack Hulse, Taylor J. Kelty, Neekun Sharma https://orcid.or...

03/04/2025

Yesterday, the National Association of Research and Education Foundations, which the TVAMRF is a proud member, released "VA Research at Risk: Veterans & Leaders Demand Immediate Action.” The release details the urgent challenges facing veterans’ research, specifically calling out the federal hiring freeze, workforce reductions, and funding constraints as obstacles that are threatening critical clinical trials and medical advancements for veterans. It includes a call to action from prominent leaders in the mil/vet community.

NAVREF thanks leaders from Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for their support on this release and lending their voice to the call to protect and safeguard lifesaving research for veterans.

I urge you to take a look at this press release: https://navref.org/Advocacy/13469893 and please like, lift up, and repost.

The VA Research Program, a cornerstone of veterans' healthcare, is facing unprecedented challenges. A federal hiring freeze, workforce reductions, and funding cuts threaten to disrupt critical research and clinical trials that veterans rely on today.