Support letter for VA Medical Research for FY 2027

MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH PROGRAM – at least $1.2 billion The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition urges Congress to provide at least $1.2 billion in discretionary funding for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program in FY 2027, recognizing the critical role VA research plays in advancing Veterans’ health and driving medical innovation nationwide. Sustained funding is essential to preserving VA’s legacy of scientific excellence. This investment will support VA’s core research operations, including investigator-initiated studies, clinical trials, and translational science that directly informs the care Veterans receive across VA medical centers nationwide. Increased funding will also help VA accelerate research in toxic exposures, mental health conditions, traumatic brain injury, and chronic diseases that disproportionately affect Veterans — areas where VA continues to lead the nation in innovation. With continued investment, VA can remain at the forefront of medical research, delivering breakthroughs that improve Veterans’ lives and strengthen America’s broader research ecosystem.

PHYSICAL AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) INFRASTRUCTURE MAJOR AND MINOR CONSTRUCTION – $200 million FOVA further urges Congress to provide $200 million for major and minor construction to address longstanding research infrastructure deficiencies across VA medical centers and affiliated research facilities. Years of constrained capital investment have contributed to deteriorating research space, unresolved life-safety deficiencies, and aging building systems that impede the conduct of modern biomedical research. Dedicated funding is necessary to modernize laboratories, correct Priority 1 health and safety deficiencies, and ensure research facilities meet contemporary standards required for clinical and translational science.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – $55 million In addition, FOVA recommends $55 million in dedicated funding for research information technology modernization. VA’s ability to initiate and execute clinical trials, securely manage research data, and maintain competitive academic and industry partnerships depends on modern, interoperable IT infrastructure. Targeted investment would strengthen research data storage and security, support cloud computing capabilities, improve interoperability with research affiliates, and enhance digital tools necessary for cutting-edge biomedical research.

Academy of Physicians in Clinical Research

AcademyHealth

Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM)

Alliance for Aging Research

Alpha-1 Foundation ALS Association

Alzheimer’s Association

Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM)

American Academy of Neurology

American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

American Association of Colleges of Nursing

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine

American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges

American Brain Coalition

American Epilepsy Society

American Gastroenterological Association

American Geriatrics Society

American Heart Association

American Massage Therapy Association

American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association

American Physiological Society

American Psychiatric Association

American Psychological Association Services, Inc.

American Society for Nutrition

American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET)

American Society for Neurorehabilitation

American Society of Hematology

American Society of Nephrology

American Thoracic Society

Arthritis Foundation

Association for Clinical and Translational Science

Association of Academic Leaders of Neurology (formerly AUPN)

Association of Academic Physiatrists

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

Association of Cancer Care Centers

Association of Minority Health Professions Schools

Association of VA Hematology Oncology

Association of VA Neurology Services (AVANS)

Blinded Veterans Association

Brain Injury Association of America

Caregiver Action Network

Center for Patient Advocacy Leaders (CPALs)

Clinical Research Forum

Coalition for Clinical and Translational Science

Community Liver Alliance

Corp Mind Body Wellness LLC DAV (Disabled American Veterans)

Digestive Disease National Coalition

Dystonia Medical Research Foundation

Endocrine Society

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research

Good Days Hope Charities

Interstitial Cystitis Association

LUNGevity Foundation

Lymphatic Education & Research Network

Melanoma Research Foundation

Mission MSA

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR)

National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists

National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF)

National Scleroderma Foundation

NCODA

Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA)

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Project Sleep

Prostate Cancer Foundation

Research Society on Alcohol

Research!America

RESNA

Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation

Sleep Research Society

Society for Investigative Dermatology

Society for Neuroscience

Society for Women’s Health Research

The Catholic War Veterans of the USA, Inc.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

US Hereditary Angioedema Association

Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute

ZERO Prostate Cancer