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The Advanced Platform Technology (APT) Center at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center supports translational research programs like VA-TEAM, helping investigators move innovations from concept to clinical care. ©VA Research
November 18, 2025
By Marcus Henry
VA Research Communications
"These RFAs are about more than good science. They ensure investigators have a roadmap, milestones, and the support to move discoveries closer to Veterans' care."
Science is slow.
It can take nearly two decades for a medical breakthrough to turn from a discovery in a lab to a practical treatment for patients. That could be two decades a Veteran doesn’t have.
“When somebody needs something, they want it now, and they’re willing to take anything that would offer relief,” VA Secretary Douglas Collins said during an interview on the Joe Pags Show. “I want to make sure that it’s good for them, that its positive for them, and that they do get the relief without any unintended consequences.”
Shortening the gap between urgent need and safe, effective treatments is where VA’s translational research efforts come into play, ensuring Veterans can benefit from innovations in health care as soon as it is safely possible.
Through specialized funding, mentorship, and translational research programs, VA is helping investigators turn promising discoveries into treatments, devices, and diagnostics that can be tested in clinical trials and eventually delivered to Veterans across the nation. This could mean turning a compound into a potential drug, adapting a device for clinical testing, or proving a diagnostic tool works reliably in real-world settings.
To speed this process, VA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) creates specialized funding opportunities called Requests for Applications (RFAs) that are designed to support projects with strong scientific foundations and clear potential into the Investigational New Drug (IND) stage.
“We see many promising leads, but what matters is whether those leads can realistically become treatments that improve Veterans’ lives,” said Dr. Carol Fowler, an Investigators, Scientific Review and Management health science officer. “That means building in early evaluation, partnerships, and strategies to bridge the gap between discovery and clinical application.”
The aim is to give researchers both funding and a framework for making critical decisions along the way, according to Dr. Arun Sharma, from ORD’s Medical Health and Aging portfolio.
“These RAs are about more than good science,” said Sharma. “They ensure investigators have a roadmap, milestones, regulatory considerations, and the support to move discoveries closer to Veterans’ care.”
If RFAs are an investigator’s map, then the VA Translational Education and Mentoring Center (VA-TEAM) is their guide, teaching them how to develop a practical solution for patient care.
Launched in 2021 and based at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, VA-TEAM operates in two phases. Phase 1, called C3i (Creativity, Commercialization, and Collaboration in Innovation), provides broad training across VA through workshops, lectures, and online resources that introduce investigators to the fundamentals of translational science and commercialization. Phase 2 is more intensive-offering tailored mentorship, weekly advising sessions, and project-specific guidance to help researchers refine their products and prepare them for regulatory and business hurdles.
The VA-TEAM is led by Dr. Andrew Cornwell, a biomedical engineer who works in close coordination with VA’s Office of Research and Development and its Technology Transfer Program. Together, these efforts ensure that researchers not only develop new ideas but also learn how to communicate their value, attract partners, and move efficiently through FDA requirements. This coordination helps avoid the “valley of death” where discoveries often stall between early research and clinical trials.
“The real strength in the program is the mentoring,” said Dr. Tracy Frech, a rheumatologist assisted by VA TEAM with a telemedicine innovation. “They walk you through how to refine your product, how to pitch it, and how to get it to the people who need it.”
A critical partner in this process is VA’s Technology Transfer Program (TTP), who work hand-in-hand with researchers to secure patents, manage intellectual property, and license VA discoveries to outside partners who can manufacture, market, and distribute them at scale. Without this bridge, many promising innovations might remain locked inside the laboratory. By helping investigators navigate the legal and business steps of commercialization, TTP ensures VA’s investment in science translates into products that reach Veterans and the public.
TTP also manages royalty returns to VA and its inventors, reinvesting those funds into new research. This creates a cycle where each breakthrough not only benefits patients but also fuels the next generation of discovery. Coordinating closely with VA-TEAM, TTP provides the commercialization backbone that supports VA’s translational efforts.
Together, these programs leave investigators with practical skills in pitching innovations, clear commercialization strategies, and stronger scientific packages ready for FDA review. They have also fostered partnerships with outside organizations and philanthropies, giving VA researchers new pathways to sustain their work. By providing mentoring, networking, and de-risking support, VA-TEAM and TTP are cultivating an entrepreneurial culture within VA research that benefits both Veterans and the broader health care community.
For Veterans, translational research means faster access to innovations that could save lives or improve quality of care. For VA, it builds a culture of innovation that values not just discovery, but delivery. Through translational research programs, VA ensures that promising ideas have a clear path toward improving Veteran and global health, rather than stalling in the lab.
Marcus Henry is a writer/editor with VA’s Office of Research and Development. This story is part of VA Research Currents, which highlights research that matters to Veterans.
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