A Million Vets

The US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a million veterans to volunteer to take part in its databank of genetic and medical information, reports the Baltimore Sun. Veterans and the VA system have especial appeal for this kind of research since there are veterans of a variety of ages, ethnicities, and medical histories. With this genetic and medical information, the VA plans to study what genes are linked to disorders like post-traumatic stress or heart disease, and develop preventive treatments. "We did tell them that this may not benefit them directly," says Joel Kupersmith, the chief research and development officer at the VA, to the Sun. "But vets are very altruistic people and they're likely to help if you tell them it will benefit someone else." About 51,000 people have agreed to participate thus far, the Sun adds.