• Research Mission Statement

    Our mission is to continually improve the health of all veterans through basic science discoveries and clinical research studies. Investigators at the Boise VA have contributed to advancements in our understanding of aging,

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  • June 1, 2016

    Researchers at the Idaho Veterans Research and Education Foundation and Boise VA Medical Center Awarded Major Scientific Research Grant from the National Institutes of Health

    Dr. Dennis Stevens, a world-renown clinician-scientist at the

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  • Please contact us if you are interested in helping further scientific research in Boise, by applying to serve as an Officer of the IVREF Board.

    We are especially interested in diversifying our Board membership with individuals

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We Strongly Believe

 

  • those who courageously serve in our nation's military deserve exceptional healthcare,

  • today’s research defines tomorrow’s standard of patient care, and;

  • training today’s young scientists and healthcare professionals ensures a continuum of healthcare advances

 

Honor a Veteran's Service

Honor a Veterans Service with Research

With the Gift of Science

Researcher Spotlight

Dr. Bryant and Dr. Aldape head the INBRE mentorship program at the Boise VAMC. The program includes an intensive undergraduate summer mentorship, as well as a staff level, multi-year post-graduate mentorship for career growth. Focus areas are in Infectious Disease (multiple strains of microbial pathogenesis, including toxin-producing, gram-positive pathogens).

Current Research

Analysis Of Circulating Phagocyte Activity Measured By Whole Blood Luminescence

Dr. Dennis L. Stevens The present study was undertaken to determine if measurement and analysis of phagocyte function are useful for diagnosis and staging of infection. Circulating phagocyte activity was measured in healthy volunteers and sequentially in patients with acute infections of different types and severity, including those with diabetes mellitus or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.


Using an automated luminescence system, these phagocyte functions were measured in whole blood: basal and phorbol 12-myristate i3-acetate (PMA)-stimulated oxidase activity, basal and PMA-stimulated simple dioxygenation (e.g., oxidase-driven haloperoxidase activity), and circulating and primed opsonin receptor-dependent dioxygenation. Multiple discriminant analysis of these data showed significant differences between healthy controls, diabetic patients, HIV-positive subjects, and patients with pneumonia or sepsis syndromes. Longitudinally, circulating phagocyte function correlated with clinical condition, severity of infection, and outcome. This methodology provides rapid, objective, and sensitive diagnostic and monitoring information for patients with infections.

IVREF