Acceptance and commitment therapy for moral injury: a transdiagnostic intervention for veterans and service members

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) awarded Denver Research Institute a Project Grant of $2.463 million under the Military Medical Research and Development program (CFDA 12.420) effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2029. The award funds research on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Moral Injury as a transdiagnostic intervention targeting veterans and service members. The deliverables encompass hypothesis-driven research and development services designed to advance therapeutic approaches addressing moral injury—a critical psychological health challenge within the military population—with potential applications across multiple diagnostic presentations.

As a non-profit biomedical research organization, Denver Research Institute will conduct the investigation at its Denver, Colorado facility, leveraging its established expertise in military healthcare research, clinical trials, and translational science. The research initiative aligns with the DHA's strategic priorities to transform healthcare delivery for service members through innovative medical solutions. The four-year performance period enables comprehensive investigation of ACT's efficacy and implementation potential as a transdiagnostic treatment modality, with anticipated outcomes contributing to evidence-based clinical practice standards for veteran and active-duty population mental health care.