Best wishes to VA CAUSAL
Best wishes to VA CAUSAL!
In 2019, investigators from the VA and Harvard’s CAUSALab launched the VA CAUSAL enterprise. The goal of this unique partnership was to provide VA investigators with expertise in the application of causal inference methodology to the rich databases of the Veterans Administration. Together, we took on challenging projects for the prevention of suicide, dementia, cancer, infectious diseases, and other health problems in U.S. veterans. We also developed methodological resources and code for target trial emulation and made it available to all VA investigators.
When the funding landscape shifted in 2025, VA and CAUSALab jointly supported the partnership. CAUSALab contributed its own resources, reflecting its commitment to sustain research aimed at improving veterans’ health.
In 2026, we were proud to hear that the VA Cooperative Studies Program, with its causal inference capability now established, will carry forward VA CAUSAL operations independently. At CAUSALab, we are honored to have played a part in that achievement and delighted to see VA CAUSAL take flight.
For an overview of VA CAUSAL activities, watch the 2025 Kolokotrones Symposium “Building a Learning Health System: the VA-CAUSAL Enterprise”, which was held at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health with speakers from both the VA and CAUSALab.
