Advancing Veteran and public health
through innovative research

Glossary

AAHRPP Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Program An independent, non-profit accrediting body ensuring that research programs meet rigorous standards for quality and protection for human research subjects.
ACORP Animal Component of Research Protocol The official VA animal protocol form is the set of questions that must be considered during a review of animal protocols. It must be used by VA Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) when a project involving animal research is submitted for consideration of VA funding.
Ci2i Center for Innovation to Implementation

VA Palo Alto Health Care System Ci2i’s mission is to produce health services research that informs how VHA operational partners pursue healthcare through better access, higher quality, and wiser use of resources.

CRADA Cooperative Research and Development Agreement An agreement between a government agency and a private company to work together on research and development.
CSP Cooperative Studies Program The Division of VA Research & Development that is responsible for the planning and conduct of large multicenter clinical trials and epidemiological studies in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
DHHS Department of Health & Human Services The US government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
F & A Rate Facilities & Administrative Rate F&A costs are those costs that are incurred for common or joint objectives and therefore cannot be identified readily and specifically with a particular sponsored project.
FAR Federal Acquisition Regulations This system consists of sets of regulations issued by agencies of the federal government to govern the process through which the government purchases goods and services.
GRECC Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center The focus of this Center is to improve and disseminate knowledge regarding the medical, psychological, and social needs of older Veterans (65 years of age and older).
HERC Health Economics Resource Center HERC is a national center located in Menlo Park, CA that assists VA researchers in assessing the cost-effectiveness of medical care, evaluating the efficiency of VA programs and providers, and conducting high-quality health economics research.
HSR&D Health Services Research and Development Services HSR&D services examines the organization, delivery, and financing of health care, from the perspectives of patients, caregivers, providers, and managers to improve the quality and economy of care.
IACUC Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee This is a self-regulating entity that, according to U.S. federal law, must be established by institutions that use laboratory animals for research or instructional purposes to oversee and evaluate all aspects of the institution's animal care and use program.
IPA Intergovernmental Personnel Act The IPA Program provides for the temporary assignment of personnel between the Federal Government and state and local governments, colleges and universities, Indian tribal governments, federally funded research and development centers, and other eligible organizations.
IRB Institutional Review Board The IRB is a federally mandated panel that is charged with overseeing the protection of human participants in research.
JPA Joint Personnel Agreement Cost reimbursement agreement by which PAVIR procures the services of a Stanford University employee devoting effort on a PAVIR project.
MIRECC Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center These Centers were established by Congress with the goal of researching the causes and treatments of mental disorders and using education to put new knowledge into routine clinical practice in the VA.
NAVREF National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations NAVREF is the nonprofit membership organization of research and education foundations affiliated with Department of Veterans Affairs medical Centers.
NIH National Institutes of Health The nation’s medical research agency dedicated to making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. NIH is the largest source of funding for medical research in the world and funds thousands of scientists in universities and research institutions in every state across America and around the globe.
OGC The mission of the Office of General Counsel is to identify and meet the legal needs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
OMB Office of Management & Budget The Office of Management and Budget assists the President in overseeing the preparation of the Federal budget and in supervising its administration in Federal agencies. The OMB also oversees and coordinates the Administration's procurement, financial management, information, and regulatory policies.
OPM Office of Personnel Management A human resources department for federal government employees. The Office of Personnel Management advocates for innovated human resources practices, encourages recognition opportunities of deserving employees, professional development opportunities, and assists federal employees with information regarding their pay rates and advancement opportunities within the public sector.
ORO Office of Research Oversight serves as the primary VHA office in advising the Under Secretary for Health and exercising oversight concerning all matters of research compliance and assurance, including human subject protections, laboratory animal welfare, research safety, research laboratory security, research information security, research misconduct, debarment for research impropriety, and other matters that the Under Secretary for Health may assign.
PAIRE Palo Alto Institute for Research and Education, Inc. The name under which PAVIR operated prior to July 1, 2014.
PAVIR Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research (PAVIR) facilitates research and education activities conducted at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS).
PERC Program Evaluation and Resource Center PERC conducts evaluations of the national mental health program and policies for the VA Office of Mental Health Services and a program of health services research on chronic pain, substance use and mood disorders.
PI Principal Investigator NIH defines PI: The Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is defined as the individual(s) judged by the applicant organization to have the appropriate level of authority and responsibility to direct the project or program supported by the grant.
PSA Personal Services Agreement Cost reimbursement agreement by which PAVIR procures the services of a Stanford University employee devoting effort to PAVIR. Only used when the PAVIR account is not sponsored.
R&DC Research and Development Committee The R&D Committee is responsible, through the Chief of Staff (COS) to the Director, for advising and assisting the Director in providing oversight, planning, and execution of the VAPAHCS R&D program, and assisting the Director in maintaining high standards throughout the R&D program.
RDIS Research and Development Information System VA Palo Alto Research & Development Website – General Research Administration information and online application for R & D Committee project approval
rJPA Reverse Joint Personnel Agreement Cost reimbursement agreement by which Stanford procures the services of a PAVIR employee devoting effort for Stanford University.
SRC Scientific Review Committee This is a subcommittee of the VA Palo Alto Research and Development committee and is responsible for maintaining high standards for scientific quality for all research projects.
SRS Subcommittee on Research Safety The Research Safety Subcommittee (RSS) serves as an advisory committee to the Research and Development Committee (R&DC) on safety issues related to the performance of research studies at VAPAHCS.
SU Stanford University The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is an American private research university located in Palo Alto, California.
VA Veterans Affairs The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates programs to benefit veterans and members of their families. The Department of Veterans Affairs consists of three organizations that administer veterans' programs: the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration.
VAPAHCS Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System The VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) consists of three inpatient facilities located at Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Livermore, plus seven outpatient clinics in San Jose, Capitola, Monterey, Stockton, Modesto, Sonora, and Fremont. VAPAHCS is a teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research
VISN Veterans Integrated Service Network The U.S. is divided into 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks, or VISNs — regional systems of care working together to better meet local health care needs and provides greater access to care.
VISTA Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture VISTA, which is the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture. It is a rich, automated environment that supports day-to-day operations at local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities.
WRIISC War Related Illness & Injury Study Center The CA War Related Illness & Injury Study Center (WSRIISC) provides consultation services for post-deployment Veterans with a complex medical history that includes tests and treatment with little to no symptom improvement; possible deployment related environmental exposures; and for primary care physicians (PCP) who desire a second opinion using a multi-specialty team approach.
Last Modified: January 9, 2020 1:44pm
NAVREF 2021-2022 Membership