Next-Generation Biomarkers of Gulf War Illness
Abstract
Studies over the last two decades have provided evidence that symptoms associated with Gulf War Illness (GWI) may result from malfunction of the neurological, inflammatory, and immune systems. However, there are no medical tests available to diagnose GWI. Also, a lack of detailed understanding of the biological processes that cause disease has made it difficult to develop treatments for GWI. Recent exciting advances in medical technologies make it possible to identify far more indicators of disease mechanisms than available to past studies. Our study will use state-of-the-art medical technologies, available on our campus, in the University of Texas Southwestern Genomics and Microarray core facilities, to identify unique molecular markers in the blood of ill Gulf War Veterans. We will apply these new testing technologies to blood and DNA samples previously collected in our earlier studies in a representative sample of Gulf War Veterans. The sorts of blood markers that our studies might identify in ill Gulf War Veterans but not in well Veterans and in patients with other diseases include small proteins given off by diseased tissues or produced by the body to combat the illness. We will also test DNA for signs of damage known to be caused by certain chemicals like those to which Gulf War Veterans were exposed during the Gulf War. Since we will be testing blood and DNA samples previously collected and stored in the freezer, there will be no risks to the Veterans who gave them. Successful outcomes of this study should help develop an objective diagnostic test for Veterans with neurologic symptoms from GWI. This would allow GWI to be diagnosed by clinical physicians just like any other disease of medical interest. They might also help us understand what is going wrong with the body that is causing the symptoms of GWI, and this knowledge is likely to lead to breakthroughs in treatments to cure GWI or better relieve its major symptoms. This study will take approximately 2 years to complete. Its findings should narrow down the possible explanations for why Gulf War Veterans were made ill by the war and thus focus future research more squarely on the fundamental problems underlying the disease. This will speed the development of future diagnostic and therapeutic technology for GWI.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 2018
- Source ID
- W81XWH1710586
Entities
People
- Laurie Davis
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center