State of the Science

NAVREF's State of the Science series is a new initiative spotlighting urgent health issues facing the Veteran community. These events convene VA leaders, researchers, industry innovators, and Veteran advocates to examine current data, elevate emerging science, and catalyze partnerships that accelerate real-world impact.

Our goal is to strengthen public-private collaboration around the VA's most pressing research priorities—ensuring Veterans have access to cutting-edge care driven by evidence, data, and innovation.

NAVREF envisions a nation in which Veterans receive the finest care based on groundbreaking research. Our member organizations—over 75 nonprofit foundations aligned with VA medical centers—facilitate more than $310 million in VA research annually and support more than 3,000 activities in clinical trials, education, and training.

Through the State of the Science series, we aim to:

• Raise awareness of VA research priorities
• Foster new collaborations between government, academia, industry, and community partners
• Expand clinical trial pipelines and real-world data initiatives
• Create enduring pathways to bring innovative therapies to Veterans faster

Women Veterans are the fastest-growing group of VA patients, with enrollment tripling since 2001. As their numbers grow, so does the demand for comprehensive, gender-specific care and research.

Our May 2025 State of the Science event brought together public and private leaders to:

• Present demographic and clinical data on women Veterans
• Project long-term healthcare needs across lifespan
• Highlight VA's women's health research priorities
• Launch conversations around investment, innovation, and equity

Veterans are disproportionately affected by lung cancer due to military service exposures and historically higher smoking rates. In November, NAVREF convened VA leaders, researchers, and partners for State of the Science: Accelerating Lung Cancer Research for Veterans to explore how to close care gaps and expand research opportunities.

The event:

• Presented the latest VA data on lung cancer trends and future projections
• Highlighted VA research priorities and capacity
• Identified new pathways for collaboration with industry, philanthropy, and federal partners
• Explored how to strengthen the clinical trials pipeline through NAVREF's nonprofit network

Cognitive decline and dementia affect a growing number of Veterans, many of whom face unique risk factors tied to military service. The Department of Veterans Affairs is leading research into early detection, innovative care models, and interventions that improve quality of life—but cross-sector collaboration is essential to accelerate progress.

Our May 2026 State of the Science event brought together VA leaders, researchers, industry partners, and Veteran advocates to advance this critical work. The event:

• Showcased emerging VA research and data on Alzheimer's and related dementias
• Explored care models addressing cognitive decline among Veterans
• Identified opportunities for collaboration across VA, academia, industry, and philanthropy
• Highlighted how NAVREF's nonprofit network supports partnerships that translate research into better outcomes