News

The Defense Health Research Consortium April 24, 2023 The Honorable Jon TesterThe Honorable Susan CollinsChairVice ChairSubcommittee on DefenseSubcommittee on DefenseCommittee on AppropriationsCommittee on Appropriations122 Senate Dirksen Building115 Senate Dirksen BuildingWashington, DC 20515Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Tester and Vice Chair Collins: As you begin work on the fiscal year 2024 Defense Appropriations Act, we write to thank you and encourage you to continue your support for the critical and highly successful defense health research programs funded through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the Department of Defense (DoD).  While the CDMRP funds research to protect the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, military families, veterans, and civilian populations from a wide range of medical conditions and health challenges, many of these programs are also directly related to preparedness and response to global pandemics.   We therefore encourage you to increase funding for these critical programs by five percent plus inflation, to ensure that our country is prepared to meet current and future public health-related threats and challenges to our national security.  An increase in funding is particularly vital to mitigate the impact of inflation on the purchasing power of individual CDMRP programs, particularly those programs that have been flat funded for several years. The highly innovative research portfolio supported by the CDMRP fuels scientific discovery by funding high impact research not sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other federal agencies. Many of the programs’ award mechanisms propel the exploration of revolutionary ideas and concepts.  Programs focus on the potential of having a significant impact upon both their respective fields of research and the health and well-being of the men and women in the U.S. Armed Services.  CDMRP awards grants to study many of the conditions – including kidney and pancreatic cancers and melanoma – added by the PACT Act as VA benefit presumptive service-related health conditions. Defense health research programs are worthy of continued federal support for the following reasons: Directly relevant to DoD-prevalent conditions: The medical research programs at DoD directly impact the health and lives of the U.S. military, their families, veterans and the public.  Programs provide groundbreaking research on psychological health, Gulf War Illness, respiratory health, burn pits and other toxic exposures, spinal cord injury, and hearing and vision loss, and newer conditions such as Long COVID. Research also focuses on existing and emerging infectious diseases that may threaten operational readiness and health security, and why diseases like ALS and multiple sclerosis occur at greater rates in those who have served in the military.  The defense health research program has also funded the orthopedic research program that has resulted in new limb-sparing techniques to save injured extremities and preserve and restore the functions of injured extremities. Letter to Chair Tester/Vice Chair CollinsApril 24, 2023Page 2 Equally important, this disease-specific approach includes important medical research programs related to several forms of cancer (breast, blood, colorectal, bladder, brain tumors, lung, ovarian, prostate, stomach, liver, esophageal, rare and childhood cancers), autoimmune diseases and other disorders (like neurofibromatosis and tuberous sclerosis complex) that have led to breakthroughs on nerve regeneration, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Complementary – and not duplicative – of other federal research:  Defense health research program grants neither duplicate nor supplant NIH or VA research efforts, but rather enhance those efforts. They fund highly innovative projects – support that is typically unavailable through other federal programs.  For example, programmatically- related VA research funding is only available to VA employees (at least 0.625 full-time equivalent). CDMRP funds the best-qualified proposals from researchers and research teams at top research universities and medical centers.  The NIH and DoD medical research portfolios have symbiotic relationships, allowing NIH-funded basic research to serve as a foundation for ground-breaking, disorder-targeted research at DoD.  NIH and DoD program officers meet regularly to ensure collaboration and prevent duplication. Cutting-edge and focused on cures:  While the NIH funds high-quality basic biomedical research, the defense health research programs provide essential emphasis on and support for finding innovative cures or new therapies for medical conditions.  For several disorders, DoD breakthroughs have led to new clinical trials, new drug products, and novel procedures that are making a difference in the everyday lives of affected patients and families.  For example, research funded by DoD led to the development of the only treatment for tuberous sclerosis complex approved by Food and Drug Administration. The ALS Research Program is supporting translational research and has developed four potential treatments for the disease, for which an effective treatment currently does not exist.  Enclosed is a detailed white paper providing many examples of breakthroughs by the various CDMRPs that have benefitted active-duty warfighters, veterans, military families and civilian populations. Agile, adaptable, and collaborative:  Each of the separate programs is guided by a specific vision and mission statement, which in addition to incorporating Congressional direction, reflect rapid change in knowledge, address research gaps, and prevent duplication.  Annual funding prevents out-year budget commitments, which in turn further enhances programmatic flexibility. Many DoD programs identify, develop and fund collaborative and consortium-based research, helping to bring unique, interdisciplinary, inter-institutional, collaborative efforts to bear on complex medical research issues unlikely to be solved though the inherent limits of individual researchers.  Letter to Chair Tester/Vice Chair CollinsApril 24, 2023Page 3   Competitive and unique peer review process:  While Congress allocates funding through the annual Defense Appropriations Act to specific medical conditions, it does not direct the programs’ dollars to specific researchers.  These programs utilize an efficient multi-tiered process that includes multiple stages of peer review, including two levels of formalpeer review of final proposals. Proposals are scored in a number of key areas such as scientific merit and impact for patients and the military, providing a robust comparativebasis for helping accomplish the program’s mission of finding and funding the best research related to these important medical conditions. Consumer review: All defense health research programs incorporate the full and equal participation of consumer reviewers at every stage of the multi-tiered review process – a novel and valuable practice in medical research funding.   Consumers – people actually affected by the disease or medical condition – help ensure the program’s funded research will have the greatest impact on those who are affected.  Consumer reviewers also help inform and educate their disease advocacy communities and others.  Generating economic growth across the United States:Research activities promote job growth and encourage long-term economic development through innovation.It has been estimated that for every dollar awarded in biomedical research grants, more than $2 of additional business activity is created.  Defense health research grants are awarded to universities and institutes in every state in the country. In short, the well-executed and efficient programs within the defense health research programs demonstrate responsible government stewardship of taxpayer dollars and benefit current and former military service members, the general patient population, and our nation’s economy. Perhaps most importantly, DoD’s innovative approaches to funding biomedical research have led to several significant breakthroughs and achievements, contributing to national security and the health and welfare of U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their dependents.  Continued federal funding will only build on these successes. Lastly, we encourage timely enactment of the fiscal year 2024 Defense Appropriations Act, to ensure continuity in the defense health research programs.  We recognize the continuing challenges you must face to move appropriations bills through the “regular order” process.  However, we must continue to maintain continuity in investment in this important research to ensure that our nation is prepared for future pandemics and other public health challenges that threaten our current military populations and their families, as well as veterans and the general civilian population.   Letter to Chair Tester/Vice Chair CollinsApril 24, 2023Page 4  Therefore, the undersigned respectfully request your support increasing the appropriation for defense health research programs by five percent plus inflation in the FY 2024 Defense Appropriations Act. Sincerely, ALS AssociationAmerican Academy of Allergy, Asthma & ImmunologyAmerican Academy of Dermatology AssociationAmerican Academy of NeurologyAmerican Academy of OphthalmologyAmerican Association for Cancer ResearchAmerican Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial ResearchAmerican Association for the Study of Liver DiseasesAmerican Brain Tumor AssociationAmerican Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsAmerican College of RheumatologyAmerican Gastroenterological AssociationAmerican Lung AssociationAmerican Psychological AssociationAmerican Society of HematologyAmerican Urological AssociationAmputee CoalitionAplastic Anemia and MDS International FoundationAPS Foundation of America, IncArthritis FoundationAsbestos Disease Awareness OrganizationAssociation of American Cancer InstitutesAsthma and Allergy Foundation of AmericaBeyond CeliacBladder Cancer Advocacy NetworkBlue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer AssociationBrown UniversityThe Buoniconti Fund to Cure ParalysisCancer ABCsCase Western Reserve University School of MedicineCeliac Disease FoundationChildren's Tumor FoundationCholangiocarcinoma FoundationChristopher & Dana Reeve FoundationCoalition for Academic Scientific ComputationLetter to Chair Tester/Vice Chair CollinsApril 24, 2023Page 5 Coalition for National Security ResearchConnect MelanomaCrohn's & Colitis FoundationCURE EpilepsyCureHHTDeadliest Cancers CoalitionDebbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancerdebra of AmericaDefense Health Research ConsortiumDuke HealthDuke UniversityECAN Esophageal Cancer Action NetworkEpilepsies Action Network (EANEpilepsy Alliance AmericaEpilepsy FoundationFD/MAS AllianceThe Fibroid FoundationFight Colorectal CancerFORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer EmpoweredFoundation for Peripheral NeuropathyFoundation to Eradicate DuchenneGlobal Health Technologies CoalitionGO2 for Lung CancerHarvard UniversityHepatitis B FoundationHIV Medicine AssociationHope for Stomach CancerHydrocephalus AssociationImmune Deficiency FoundationIndiana UniversityInternational Myeloma FoundationInternational Pemphigus Pemphigoid FoundationJohns Hopkins University & MedicineKidney Cancer AssociationKidneyCANThe LAM FoundationLennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) FoundationThe Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietyLittlest Tumor FoundationLiving Beyond Breast CancerLUNGevity FoundationLupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.Lupus Foundation of AmericaLetter to Chair Tester/Vice Chair CollinsApril 24, 2023Page 6 Lupus Research AllianceLymphoma Research FoundationMelanoma Research FoundationMesothelioma Applied Research FoundationThe Miami Project to Cure ParalysisThe Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's ResearchMichigan State UniversityNational Alliance for Eye and Vision ResearchNational Alliance of State Prostate Cancer CoalitionsNational Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH)National Autism AssociationNational Brain Tumor SocietyNational Fragile X FoundationNational Multiple Sclerosis SocietyNational Organization for Rare DisordersNational Scleroderma FoundationNeurofibromatosis MidwestNeurofibromatosis NetworkNorth American Spinal Cord Injury ConsortiumOncology Nursing SocietyOvarian Cancer Research AlliancePancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN)Pandemic PatientsParent Project Muscular DystrophyPenn State UniversityProject 8p FoundationThe Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials ConsortiumProstate Cancer FoundationProstate Health Education Network, Inc. (PHEN)Pulmonary Fibrosis FoundationThe Quinism FoundationRare Epilepsy Network (REN)Research!AmericaThe Sergeant Sullivan CircleSHEPHERD FoundationSjogren's FoundationThe Society of Thoracic SurgeonsSociety of Gynecologic OncologySolve M.E.St. Baldrick's FoundationStony Brook UniversitySusan G. KomenSynGAP Research FundLetter to Chair Tester/Vice Chair CollinsApril 24, 2023Page 7 SYNGAP1 FoundationTB AllianceTexas A&M Health Science CenterTexas Neurofibromatosis FoundationTSC AllianceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusUniversity of North Carolina SystemUniversity of PittsburghVasculitis FoundationVeterans for Common SenseVHL AllianceWayne State UniversityWeill Cornell MedicineZERO Prostate Cancer cc: Members of the U.S. Senate  Enclosure: “Relevance to National Security and Military Families”

The record-breaking speed at which COVID-19 vaccines were developed was a triumph of modern science. Yet the world is still without preventative vaccines to combat many diseases that enact a heavy toll on communities around the world—underscoring the need for continued investments in vaccine research and development.In recognition of World Immunization Week, GHTC is testing readers’ knowledge of vaccines for some of the world’s leading global health challenges. For each disease listed below, answer yes or no as to whether an approved vaccine exists.

Interested in more global health innovation news? Every week GHTC scours media reports worldwide to deliver essential global health R&D news and content to your inbox. Sign up now to receive our weekly R&D News Roundup email.Last Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially launched its mRNA vaccine technology hub in Cape Town, South Africa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility was established in response to global vaccine access inequity to pursue mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 and potentially other poverty-related diseases. South African biotech firm Afrigen Biologics and vaccine producer Biovac are working with the publicly available sequence of Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to create a similar vaccine candidate, which will be tested on humans early next year. The candidate will the first to be made based on a widely used vaccine (like Moderna’s) without the developer’s approval and assistance and the first mRNA vaccine designed, developed, and produced at lab scale on the African continent.The White House plans to nominate cancer surgeon Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to become the director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), succeeding Dr. Francis Collins, who stepped down in 2021. Dr. Bertagnolli has served as the director of the National Cancer Institute since last fall. If confirmed by the Senate, she will inherit COVID-19 pandemic-era challenges around increased scrutiny of the agency’s funding of virus research, including grants to EcoHealth Alliance, which studied coronaviruses in Wuhan, China.Two studies published last week found that repurposed drug combinations lowered the risk of severe COVID-19 in high-risk patients. Stanford University researchers looked at the combination of the antidepressant fluvoxamine and the corticosteroid budesonide among nonhospitalized adults with early symptomatic COVID-19 and at least one risk factor. A second team from Weill Cornell Medicine looked at the combination of the monoclonal antibodies amubarvimab and romlusevimab in nonhospitalized adult COVID-19 patients with high-risk factors. Using combinations of repurposed drugs to treat severe COVID-19 (if successful in further testing) could prove to be an important tool in reducing the burden of COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries, where oral therapeutics for COVID-19 are largely unavailable.