The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA), the diverse coalition of organizations that advocates annually for increased funding for VA research, is planning its FY 2011 effort.  The Executive Committee, of which NAVREF is a member, would appreciate your assistance on two items:

1.       Please provide specific examples of research facility problems – wet lab, dry lab, animal lab, administrative space - at your VA medical center.  In past years, anecdotes about having to run experiments in the middle of the night because air conditioning was so inadequate that  Petri dishes melted during the day, and ventilation systems that drew loading dock fumes into research space, were compelling justification for increases in the annual VA minor and major construction appropriations accounts.  We hope problems described the last time we asked for examples have been resolved, and we are in need of current examples.

2.       Please provide specific examples of how VA’s IT security requirements may be impeding research.  We understand and agree that IT security is vitally important; we are looking for problems the requirements cause and if possible, solutions that maintain security while allowing research and research collaborations to continue.

Please take a few minutes to respond by close of business on Wednesday, October 21.  Recipients of this email who are not VA research employees are encouraged to consult with their VA colleagues for examples to share. 

Thank you and have a good weekend.