More than a decade after the VA launched its Million Veteran Program (MVP), the largest genetics and health research project in the world, the department has enrolled its 900,000th veteran.

Greg Amira – retired Army Reserve member, 9/11 World Trade Center survivor, and wounded Iraq War combat veteran – saw an MVP banner during a visit to the VA medical center in Tampa, Fla., and signed up for the program. Read his amazing story of courage and service to our nation at VA.gov.

The VA has asked MOAA and other veterans service organizations and partners to share information on social media platforms and other means to encourage other veterans to join MVP.

[RELATED: VA Asks Female Veterans to Enroll in World’s Largest Medical Research Biobank]

MVP’s goal is to reach 1 million veterans next year. This historic milestone would make the VA the first research program in the world with 1 million individuals.

Registrants like Amira not only partner with the VA to help improve the lives of fellow veterans, they also join a project with the potential to impact health research for everyone, including future generations.

MVP is a voluntary research program partnering with veterans to help researchers understand how genes affect health and illness, according to the VA. Veterans help the department advance research to better understand issues like cancer risks, diabetes complications, mental illnesses such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, and cardiovascular disease.

MVP Research Projects

Current medical discoveries through MVP on conditions affecting veterans include:

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Gulf War illness
• Kidney disease
• Macular degeneration
• Osteoarthritis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Substance use disorders
• Suicide prevention
• Traumatic brain injury
• Tinnitus
• COVID-19

Any veteran can join MVP anytime, anywhere at mvp.va.gov. You’ll be asked to sign in using My HealtheVet or eBenefits or similar credentials, complete a consent process allowing access to health records, schedule a visit to provide a blood sample, and fill out surveys about your health and lifestyle.

Want to know more? Veterans can call the MVP Info Center at (866) 441-6075, access the MVP Online Fact Sheet, or find answers to frequently asked questions.