. 2022 Dec 14;9(12):ofac641. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofac641

Table 1.

Veterans Affairs Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-threatening Diseases (VA SHIELD) Purpose and Commitments

VA SHIELD Purpose	VA SHIELD Commitments
Develop a geographically representative biorepository that leverages the VA EHR to facilitate improved diagnostic, therapeutic, and prevention strategies Increase scientific impact and integrate VA research efforts Promote collaboration (internal and external to VA) Provide infrastructural and foundational support to facilitate research Serve as a premier resource for scientific and health research data that can be used by VA entities and investigators in future research studies	Maximize collection of high-quality specimens and data, ethically and efficiently Harness clinical and scientific strengths of the VA to be synergistic with preexisting efforts Provide an effective mechanism to review, approve, and distribute specimens and data to scientific partners Leverage the administrative and regulatory capabilities of VA to ensure accountability and compliance with applicable laws and regulations

VA SHIELD Purpose

VA SHIELD Commitments

Develop a geographically representative biorepository that leverages the VA EHR to facilitate improved diagnostic, therapeutic, and prevention strategies
Increase scientific impact and integrate VA research efforts
Promote collaboration (internal and external to VA)
Provide infrastructural and foundational support to facilitate research
Serve as a premier resource for scientific and health research data that can be used by VA entities and investigators in future research studies

Maximize collection of high-quality specimens and data, ethically and efficiently
Harness clinical and scientific strengths of the VA to be synergistic with preexisting efforts
Provide an effective mechanism to review, approve, and distribute specimens and data to scientific partners
Leverage the administrative and regulatory capabilities of VA to ensure accountability and compliance with applicable laws and regulations

Abbreviations: EHR, electronic health record; SHIELD, Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-threatening Diseases; VA, Veterans Affairs.