Release Date: February 26, 2026
Length: 11 minutes

In this inaugural episode, Dr. Drew Helmer speaks with Dr. Dane B. Cook about research on mitochondrial dysfunction and Gulf War Illness. The conversation explores how disruptions in cellular energy production may contribute to symptoms experienced by Gulf War veterans, and what these findings could mean for future research and care.

Featured Guest

Dane B. Cook, PhD is a VA Health Science Specialist, Research Physiologist, and Research Career Scientist at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, and Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He directs the Exercise Psychology laboratories at both the VA and UW and leads research on exercise neuroscience and chronic multisymptom illnesses, including Gulf War Illness, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and Long COVID.

His work examines how multiple biological systems—such as the central nervous system, autonomic function, immune pathways, and the gut microbiome—interact to produce and maintain complex disease.

Featured Study

Cheshkov, S., Krishnamurthy, L. C., Chang, A., Baek, H. M., Ganji, S., Babcock, E., et al. (2025). Decadelong low basal ganglia NAA/tCr from elevated tCr supports ATP depletion from mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation in Gulf War illness. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 39741.

Key Topics

• What mitochondria do and why they matter
• How the study examined brain energy metabolism
• Key findings linking mitochondrial dysfunction to Gulf War Illness
• What this research could mean for improving veterans’ health

Release Date: March 30, 2026
Length: 10 minutes

In this episode, Dr. Drew Helmer speaks with Dr. Laila Abdullah about new findings on oleoylethanolamide (OEA), a naturally occurring lipid molecule being studied as a potential intervention for Gulf War Illness.

The discussion focuses on how OEA may help reduce fatigue and improve mood, how it works in the body, and what veterans should consider before trying supplements.

Featured Guest

Laila Abdullah, PhD is a Research Biologist at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and Scientist III and Director of Omics Research at the Roskamp Institute. Her research focuses on the biological mechanisms underlying Gulf War Illness and other neurological conditions linked to military-related toxicant exposures.

Her work integrates animal models, biomarker discovery, and early-phase clinical studies to examine how disruptions in lipid metabolism, bioenergetics, neuroinflammation, and autonomic balance contribute to symptoms such as fatigue and mood changes. She also serves on the VA Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses.

Featured Study

Abdullah, L., Keegan, A. P., et al. (2026). Oleoylethanolamide supplementation improves mood and reduces fatigue in veterans with GWI in a 15-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled exploratory clinical trial. Scientific Reports.

Key Topics

• What OEA is and how it works
• Why it may matter for Gulf War Illness
• How the clinical trial was designed
• Findings on fatigue and mood
• Safety considerations and potential side effects
• What veterans and clinicians should know before using supplements

Release Date: April 27, 2026

In this episode, Dr. Drew Helmer speaks with Dr. Sarah Petry and Dr. Beth Gifford about new research on aging among Gulf War Veterans.

The discussion focuses on whether Veterans with Gulf War Illness may experience accelerated aging, how researchers measure deficit accumulation, and what these findings may mean for long-term health, care, and quality of life.

Featured Guests

Sarah E. Petry, PhD is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Population Science Training Program at the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a mixed-methods demographer whose work focuses on policy determinants of health and well-being across the life course, with a focus on aging outcomes among 1990–1991 Gulf War Era Veterans.

Beth Gifford, PhD is a Research Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and a statistician with the Durham VA Cooperative Studies Program. She is a health services researcher and demographer whose work focuses on the health of Veterans who served during the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War.

Featured Study

Petry, S. E., Thompson, A. D., Jr., Hauser, E. R., Lynch, S. M., Boyle, S. H., Upchurch, J., Press, A., Sims, K. J., Williams, C. D., & Gifford, E. J. (2024). Characterizing deficit accumulation among Gulf War Era Veterans. The Journal of Frailty & Aging, 13(3), 300–306.

Key Topics

• What does deficit accumulation mean
• How aging is studied in Gulf War Era Veterans
• Whether Gulf War Illness is linked to accelerated aging
• What a national cohort can reveal about long-term health
• Why these findings matter for Veterans’ care and quality of life
• What future research may be needed

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Dr. Drew Helmer sits down with a true legend in the field of Gulf War Illness research. Dr. Lea Steele walks us through the journey she traveled to find a way to define and diagnose Gulf War Illness, and ends the episode discussing what is next for Gulf War Veterans in research and at the doctor’s office.

Featured Guests

Dr. Lea Steele is a neuro- and environmental epidemiologist and Professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She has conducted research on the health of Gulf War veterans since the late 1990s, when she directed the Persian Gulf War Veterans’ Health Initiative for the State of Kansas and was lead investigator in developing the Kansas case definition for Gulf War illness. Her current research, working with collaborators across the country, includes assessment of  deployment exposures and factors associated with veterans’ long-term health problems, as well as neurological, immune, and genetic factors associated with Gulf War illness. More recently, she was a member of the consortium of clinicians, researchers, and veterans that worked to obtain federal approval for the recently-adopted ICD-10 diagnostic code for Gulf War illness.   

Dr. Steele previously served as Scientific Director of the federal Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses and directed the Veterans Health Research Program at Baylor University’s Institute of Biomedical Studies. She received her doctoral degree in Epidemiology and Human Ecology at the University of Texas School of Public Health and investigated complex chronic illness as an epidemiology fellow with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

Featured Study

Steele, L. (2000). Prevalence and Patterns of Gulf War Illness in Kansas Veterans: association of symptoms with characteristics of person, place, and time of military service. American journal of epidemiology, 152(10), 992-1002.

Release Date: June 29, 2026

In this episode, we speak with Gulf War veteran and veterans’ advocate Mr. Ron Brown, who served with the 82nd Airborne Division before and during the Gulf War. He currently serves as a Toxic Wounds Consultant for the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and is the former President of the National Gulf War Resource Center, where he supported veterans in a variety of ways.

Mr. Brown brings a unique perspective shaped by both his personal experiences and his years of advocacy on behalf of fellow Gulf War veterans. Join us as he shares insights into Gulf War service, toxic exposures, and the challenges many veterans continue to face today.

Featured Guests

Ronald Brown is a Toxic Wounds Consultant and veterans’ advocate. Honorably discharged U.S. Army Gulf War veteran who served with the 82nd Airborne Division from 1989 to 1992. Deployed in support of Operation Just Cause on December 20, 1989, and Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm from August 1990 through April 1991.

Ronald Brown is recognized for longstanding advocacy on behalf of Gulf War veterans, with extensive experience advancing care, benefits, research, and recognition for veterans affected by toxic exposures. He serves as a Toxic Wounds Consultant for VVA and as a consumer reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. Since 2022, has served as an active member of the VA Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses.

Former President of the National Gulf War Resource Center, Ronald Brown supported veterans through claims education, policy engagement, and direct collaboration with senior VA and U.S. Department of War officials to advance toxic exposure recognition.  

Release Date: July 27, 2026

What does it take to answer some of the biggest questions in military and veteran health? In Episode 6 of Between Service and Science, we welcome Dr. Ken Ramos, a nationally recognized physician-scientist and leader in military-related health research. Dr. Ramos discusses the research priorities shaping the future of veteran health, including Gulf War Illness and the long-term effects of military exposures. He also offers an inside look at how research is funded, who sets the priorities, and how scientific discoveries are translated into meaningful improvements for the military community.

Featured Guests

Dr. Kenneth S. Ramos is a physician-scientist and leader in academic medicine who currently serves as the Alkek Chair of Medical Genetics at Texas A&M Health, Distinguished Professor of Translational Medicine, and Executive Director of the Institute of Biosciences and Technology. He is internationally recognized for his work in genomics, precision medicine, and toxicology, with a research career focused on translating discoveries in molecular biology into improved approaches for diagnosing and treating disease. Dr. Ramos has published more than 500 peer-reviewed publications and has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine for his contributions to biomedical science. His work has helped advance precision healthcare, particularly in oncology, pulmonary medicine, and primary care, while also addressing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. Dr. Ramos has maintained a longstanding commitment to veteran health research, including leadership roles examining the health effects of military exposures and advancing research on Gulf War Veterans’ illnesses.