The University of Utah College of Nursing proudly announces that Lisa Taylor-Swanson has been awarded a $1,539,865 grant from the Department of Defense (DOD) for her project titled “Confirming the Effectiveness of Acupuncture to Treat the Symptoms of Gulf War Illness.” Spanning from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2028, the project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing pain and improving physical function in Gulf War veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Illness (GWI).
“We are honored to receive this award. This funding allows us to confirm the findings of a previous study that identified acupuncture as a potential therapeutic intervention for veterans suffering from GWI,” says Taylor-Swanson. “Acupuncture at a sufficient dose is one of the only treatments found to be effective in improving pain and function in this hard-to-treat population. Reaffirming these results will strengthen the case for acupuncture as a viable therapeutic solution for veterans nationwide.”
Participants in the study will receive acupuncture treatments either twice a week for six months or once a week for four months, with their progress monitored at various intervals to assess both short- and long-term efficacy. The study will focus on: 1) advancing effective treatment techniques, 2) identifying and validating objective biomarkers, and 3) evaluating a nonpharmacologic treatment for GWI.
“This grant award exemplifies the hard work and dedication of Dr. Taylor-Swanson and her colleagues at Harvard Medical School and Berkeley on this study, the staff within the Emma Eccles Jones Nursing Research Center here at the college, and other internal and external partners,” said Dean of the College of Nursing Marla De Jong. “This work strongly aligns with college and university priorities to accelerate innovation and discovery, and our goal to forge strong partnerships with the DOD and expand research in DOD-relevant areas. We are proud to honor our veterans by testing an intervention that may decrease their symptoms and improve their quality of life.”
In addition to its potential benefits for veterans, the grant will provide invaluable research opportunities for University of Utah students. Taylor-Swanson’s team, which includes approximately 20 students, is engaged in various research projects. Key contributors to the project include Melissa Cortez, director and founder of the autonomic physiology lab, and members of the Applied Statistics Team, Xiaoming Sheng and Bob Wong, among many others.