FRIENDS OF VA MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH RESEARCH (FOVA)
VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program
FOVA Recommendation for Medical and Prosthetic Research: $1.2 Billion
The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition recognizes the difficult funding decisions Congress faces in the FY 2026 Military Construction, VA, and Related Agencies spending bill. Despite these constraints, FOVA urges lawmakers to provide $1.2 billion for VA research reflecting the critical role VA research plays in advancing veterans’ health.
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A sustained funding boost is essential to preserving VA’s legacy of scientific excellence. This investment will empower VA to recruit and retain top scientific talent, fuel groundbreaking discoveries, and ensure veterans continue to benefit from cutting-edge treatments.
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Increased funding will also help VA accelerate research in toxic exposures, mental health, and chronic conditions disproportionately affecting veterans—areas where VA leads 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 global leadership in research and development.
FOVA’s recommendation of $1.2 billion would provide sustained and predictable funding growth for VA research, which is imperative to help ensure the best return on investment in improving the health of veterans and all Americans.
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Sustained funding growth is crucial for VA research efforts.
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Clinical trials access will be increased, and health disparities will be addressed.
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Groundbreaking programs like Million Veteran Program (MVP) will receive renewed support.
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Research on chronic and emerging needs of veterans will be prioritized.
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​Increased funding will support recruitment and retention of researchers.
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Toxic exposures and mental health research will be expanded.
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Strained IT capacity will be supported through computational science purchases.
State-of-the-art research requires sustained investment in facilities, technology, and equipment. For decades, appropriations for construction, maintenance, and IT have not provided the resources VA needs to modernize its aging research and IT infrastructure. Recognizing current fiscal constraints, FOVA urges Congress to maintain dedicated funding to support these critical needs.
FOVA Recommendation for Major & Minor Construction: at least $100 million
VA undertook a Phase II assessment of approximately 25 R&D programs to evaluate progress and ongoing challenges. The Phase II reports (East, Central, and West regions) were completed in 2019 and, while not mandated by Congress, were submitted through the VA system. The assessment found that facilities that addressed Phase I deficiencies saw significant improvements, closing the condition gap considerably. In contrast, stations that did not take corrective action experienced further deterioration, leading to increased remediation costs.
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The assessment also highlighted persistent life safety hazards, such as the lack of proper sprinkler systems, emergency showers, and eyewash stations, identified as Priority 1 deficiencies requiring immediate action. Furthermore, disparities in research space were evident, as some locations improved while others remained in poor or fair condition, which continues to impact research quality and safety. These findings underscore the importance of sustained investment of at least $100 million to maintain and modernize VA research facilities, ensuring they meet the highest standards for scientific innovation and veteran care.
FOVA Recommendation for Office Of Information and Technology: at least $25 million
VA’s Office of Information and Technology (OIT) is responsible for IT development and maintenance across VA programs, including clinical care, benefits, security, and research. To ensure the VA research enterprise remains at the forefront of innovation, it is essential that OIT funding continue to include a dedicated research component. FOVA recommends maintaining at least $25 million for VA research IT needs to support data storage and security, cloud computing advancements, interoperability with research affiliates, and modernized IT infrastructure for research programs.