# HSR&D Research Career Scientist Award

> **NIH VA IK6** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2021 · —

## Abstract

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are common in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients and
are closely linked to some of the most pressing problems facing Veterans including overdose, suicide risk
and homelessness. The VHA is a national leader in providing access to high-quality SUD treatment as
well as the development of an evidence-base to inform and improve care for Veterans with SUDs.
However, key gaps remain, particularly for Veterans who have co-occurring SUDs and psychiatric and/or
medical conditions. Nonetheless, there is the clear potential to expand the positive impact of substance-
oriented services within the VA by improving access to behavioral health treatments and integrating these
services into addictions treatment. Mark Ilgen, Ph.D. has developed a research portfolio focused on
tailoring SUD treatment to address patient comorbidity by conducting Veteran-centric health services
research on addiction. The two primary thematic aims of this work are: Aim 1: to improve treatment
outcomes and reduce risk of adverse events among Veterans with co-occurring SUDs and chronic pain;
and, Aim 2: to decrease the risk of suicide among Veterans with SUDs. These two thematic areas directly
relate to positive treatment outcomes, as well as reducing the likelihood of adverse events, among
Veterans with SUDs. Dr. Ilgen's contributions to these areas are evidenced by his grant-funded research
with support from the VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D), the Department of
Defense and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in addition to over 165 peer-reviewed scientific
publications. Dr. Ilgen has actively mentored nine early career investigators and/or trainees within the VA
and has held key administrative positions within the Ann Arbor VA Center of Innovation (COIN), as a
member of the leadership team and the co-lead of the Mentorship Core. Given his active and productive
research portfolio, as well as his demonstrated commitment to mentoring colleagues in developing VA
research careers, Dr. Ilgen is a strong candidate for a Health Services Research Career Scientist Award.
The proposed Research Career Scientist Award will support his continued research, as well an expanded
role in mentorship and training of the next generation of HSR&D researchers. This research portfolio has
the potential to address some of the most-critical and vexing behavioral health-related priorities in VHA
and improve care for some of the most challenging and highest-risk Veterans treated within the VHA
system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10197058
- **Project number:** 5IK6HX002841-02
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** MARK A. ILGEN
- **Activity code:** IK6 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10197058

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10197058, HSR&D Research Career Scientist Award (5IK6HX002841-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10197058. Licensed CC0.

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