UW-CTRI Researcher Dr. Jen Betts received a new grant from the US Veterans Administration (VA) to officially fund her Career Development Award (CDA), which at the VA is similar to a NIH “K award.”
“It provides five years of protected time and funding to conduct a pilot clinical trial and engage in related research and training to become an independent clinical investigator at the VA,” Betts said.
“My pilot trial will test a novel smoking intervention package for veterans in outpatient substance use disorder treatment to increase smoking treatment use and quit attempts. These veterans are at higher risk of death and disease from smoking so it’s important that we connect them to the clinical care that will help save their lives.”
Her primary mentor is UW-CTRI Director of Veterans Research Dr. Jessica Cook. “Jen developed a highly innovative CDA proposal that has great potential to help more Veterans with substance use disorders to access tobacco treatment,” Cook said. “Congratulations, Jen!”
Dr. Hasmeena Kathuria and Dr. Dan Bolt are also on her mentoring team.
“We’re proud of Jen and thrilled for her to achieve this career milestone,” Kathuria said.
The grant is anticipated to begin in October, with recruitment beginning in approximately April 2027.
Betts and her team plan to identify participants via substance use treatment at the VA. They’ll reach out through EHR and provider referrals.