FY2012 VA Research & Development Budget
Executive Summary (Section 3A-1, pg. 191)
The VA Research and Development (R&D) program plays a key role in advancing the health and care of Veterans and is uniquely positioned to lead a national transformation of American health care. As part of the largest integrated health care system in the United States, VA research draws upon engaged patients and families, committed clinician-scientists, and an unparalleled national health care delivery infrastructure. These resources provide a rich base for VA to deliver the best health care and develop cutting edge medical treatments for Veterans, their families, and the country. Covering a spectrum of topics from pre-clinical to health services research, the VA research program discovers ways to make health care better for Veterans and the nation as a whole. Through VA’s focused mission to advance health care for Veterans, VA research can serve as a 21st Century model for how American medicine can be transformed through scientific inquiry and innovative thought leading to evidence-based treatments that effectively improve Veterans’ health.