Print | Email AAIM Continues to Advocate for Increased Funding for VA Research (May 20, 2010) 

In preparation for congressional consideration of fiscal year (FY) 2011 appropriations bills, the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) continues its advocacy efforts to increase funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical and Prosthetics Research program.  As an executive committee member of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition, AAIM recommends $700 million for the VA research program as well as $300 million for research facilities improvement for FY 2011.  President Barack H. Obama’s FY 2011 proposed budget includes $590 million for VA research, a $9 million (1.5%) increase over FY 2010. 

AAIM encourages its membership to contact their members of Congress to advocate for increased funding for VA research.  To find contact information for your representative and senators, please visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.  Justification for FOVA’s FY 2011 funding request is below.

VA Medical and Prosthetics Research Recommendation: $700 million

FY 2010: $581 million
FY 2011 Budget Request: $590 million
FOVA Recommendation: $700 million

• Investments in veteran-centered research projects at VA have led to an explosion of knowledge that promises to advance understanding of disease and unlock strategies for prevention, treatment, and cures. 
• Additional funding is needed to take advantage of the burgeoning opportunities to improve quality of life for veterans and the nation as a whole.  VA must concurrently address the needs of its longstanding patient base as well as the evolving challenges being presented by the nation’s newest veterans. 
• VA research priorities include genomics, traumatic brain injury, mental health, polytrauma, aging-related conditions, chronic disease, equity in care, and rural health. 

VA Research Facilities Recommendation: $300 million

• State-of-the-art research requires state-of-the-art technology, equipment, and facilities; however, funding for the VA medical and prosthetics research program has failed to provide the resources needed to maintain, upgrade, and replace aging research facilities.  
• Currently, research must compete with other facility needs for basic infrastructure and physical plant support.  FOVA recommends a steady stream of resources dedicated to renovating existing research facilities and major construction funding sufficient to replace at least one outdated facility per year until the backlog is addressed.