Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (2020-2022), the Rising Up Project aims to centralize the voices of women Veteran survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and mental health practitioners by (1) leveraging their lived experiences to identify their research engagement needs and priorities, and (2) engaging them in training related to patient-centered outcomes research so they are ready to be equitable partners in research on MST.

A group of researchers (and Veterans!) are conducting a research study at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign about Veteran brain health. Our study goal is to shorten the time to diagnosis and treatment of conditions and injures common to Veterans. If you are interested in taking part in our study and potentially helping other Veterans in the future, we would love to hear from you!

Funded by the Robert R. Mccormick Foundation, this study was conducted by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers and Veterans to best understand needs of Veterans and service providers in rural areas around the state of Illinois. Results will be used to inform service development tailored to meet rural Veterans where they are.

VetREC Founder, Dr. Hunniecutt, led the development of a research study with Veterans then shared findings at a national, virtual, community event. Stemming from a partnership between the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s School of Labor and Employment Relations and Jobpath, a nonprofit national service organization for military Veterans, this project explored the diverse work experiences of Veterans in the labor market.

In 2019, Dr. Hunniecutt led the charge to host a community event focused on uncovering the complex challenges of Traumatic Brain Injury in the Veteran community. The event welcomed keynote speaker, Dr. James Kelly, Executive Director of the University of Colorado’s Marcus Institute for Brain Health and included over 20 talks from Veterans, caregivers, clinicians, and community providers. The event led to the development of several research projects focused on Veteran brain health.

Many Veterans are turning to cannabis as a replacement or supplement for prescribed medications to treat chronic pain and mental health symptoms. Dr. Hunniecutt curated relationships between researchers examining cannabis use and impacts and Veteran nonprofit organizations related to cannabis. The curated relationships have led to multiple studies, research publications, and ongoing collaboration on an issue many Veterans are passionate about.