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NIH IN-DEPTH Study of Gulf War Veteran Health

This study, called Project NIH IN-DEPTH, is looking for Gulf War veterans, both those with Gulf War Illness (GWI) and healthy veterans, to help researchers understand this condition better. GWI can cause symptoms like fatigue, pain, and memory problems. The study aims to compare the health and biological features of veterans with GWI to healthy veterans. You would stay at the NIH Clinical Center for two weeks for various tests. The goal is to learn more about GWI since routine exams don't fully explain its causes. This study is observational, meaning it's about understanding the condition, not testing a new treatment.

Study design
This is an observational study that plans to enroll 85 participants. It will compare veterans with Gulf War Illness to healthy veterans.
What's involved
Participants will stay in the NIH Clinical Center as an inpatient for 2 weeks. You will undergo many tests, including multiple blood draws, questionnaires, exercise testing, and physical exams.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary goal is to compare participants at a single visit, so there is no specified long-term follow-up after the two-week inpatient stay.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05375812

NIH Investigative Deep Phenotyping Study of Gulf War Veteran Health (Project NIH IN-DEPTH)

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 48–70Observational
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
~85 participants
Updated 2026-09-01 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
To explore and compare the clinical and biological phenotypes of veterans with GWI and healthy veteran controls (HVC) at baseline.
Measured over one time visit

Conditions

Gulf War Illness

Explore related trials

Gulf war syndrome

NCT05375812

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    Bethesda, Marylandstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Brian T Walitt, M.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Who to contact

Cynthia L Vierria
[email protected]
(301) 594-6760
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Ability to provide informed consent
Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
Age 48-70 at time of enrollment into VA IN-DEPTH Study
Veterans who were deployed to Gulf Region ODS/S between August 1990 - June 1991.
Self-reported completion of at least the seventh grade of school.
Fluency in speaking, reading, and understanding English.
Underwent screening as part of the VA IN-DEPTH study and were unanimously determined to be eligible by the IN-DEPTH Adjudication Committee.
Agree not to smoke in the 4 hours prior to CPET procedure

Exclusion

Current or past psychotic disorder including depression with psychosis, bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms and schizophrenia
Current DSM-5-defined major depression disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder unless managed for more than six months with a stable treatment regimen
Current or past substance use disorder within last five years as diagnosed on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5). Prior or prescription marijuana use within the past five years will not be an exclusion.
Current suicidal ideation
History of head injury leading to moderate or severe traumatic brain injury, as detailed by loss of consciousness for greater than 30 minutes, a Glasgow Coma Score of 12 or less at the time of injury, post-traumatic amnesia greater than one day, or brain-scan changes related to a head injury. Persons having a history of mild TBI (mTBI) will not be excluded.
Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are within one-year post-partum.
Current or previous malignancy. A history of malignancy that has fully resolved with surgical resection only (e.g. no chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy) will be allowed.
Current systemic immunologic disorders (e.g. Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis). Local immunological disorder (e.g. atopic dermatitis, stable autoimmune thyroid disease) and allergic disorders will be allowed.
Current or previous long-term immune suppressive therapy. Systemic steroid use, even short-term, must not have been used within the month prior to enrollment
Any medical condition that would make the study procedures risky for the participant (e.g. congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe osteoarthritis, exercise-induced angina and poorly controlled asthma).
Active participation in a clinical protocol (e.g. anti-inflammatory drug intervention study) which includes an intervention that may affect the results of the current study.
Inability to perform the bicycling exercise task. (e.g. coronary artery disease, not having a lower limb, disabling stroke)
Not willing to allow for research data and samples to be shared broadly with other researchers.
Symptom severity that makes it impossible for the volunteer to travel to NIH for extended inpatient evaluation
Use of medications with a high-risk for withdrawal-related complications (i.e. long-acting opiates or benzodiazepines).
Substantial claustrophobia
Inability to lie on back for up to 2 hours

What this trial measures

  • To explore and compare the clinical and biological phenotypes of veterans with GWI and healthy veteran controls (HVC) at baseline.one time visit

    Evaluate a number of clinical and biological measures.