Adding labels in the research repository

Last Updated: September 18, 2026

Labels in the GitHub research repository help researchers and team members find previous studies. Adding the appropriate labels to your study makes research easier to find and helps connect findings across products, audiences, and topics.

Researchers should use existing labels whenever possible. The research repository uses a defined set of labels to keep labeling consistent and make research easier to find and synthesize across studies.

Helpful links

• Research repo board on GitHub

• List of labels on GitHub

When to add labels

Add labels to your study's GitHub issue in the research repo board during the following steps in the research checklist. Note that you might need to create new labels.

• Step 2: Research review

  • Start adding labels to your issue when you add your study to the repo board.

• Step 4: Synthesize and Share

  • After writing your research findings, add any other relevant labels to your issue on the repo board.

How to add labels to your study

Before adding labels to your study, review the existing labels in GitHub. Choose the labels that best describe the product, audience, topic, or other relevant aspects of your research.

How to choose labels to your study

Choose labels that will help someone find your research later. You can use more than one type of label to describe a study.

For example, consider labels that identify:

• The product being researched.

• The audience or specific group participating in the research.

• The Veteran journey the research relates to.

• Any relevant Design System components or patterns.

• The VA team or initiative associated with the work.

Only add labels that meaningfully describe the study. You don't need to use every type of label for every research study.

Types of labels

If you need a new label

If you can't find an existing label that accurately describes your research or product, DM Shane Strassberg in Slack to request one.

Include the label you need, a link to your research plan, and a brief explanation of why it's needed. Shane will review the request and create the label if appropriate.

Centralizing the creation of new labels helps keep the repository organized and prevents duplicate or overlapping labels.

Cleaning up existing labels

If you notice a label that appears to be outdated, duplicated, incorrectly named, or inconsistent with the existing label structure, don't modify or delete it yourself.

DM Shane in Slack with the label and a brief description of the issue. He can review it and make any necessary changes.

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