Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Miller-Meeks
Introduced
Summary
This bill would expand the VA's Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative to focus on _precision brain health research for veterans_. It targets repetitive low-level blast exposure, dementia, and other brain and mental health conditions, and it pairs VA research with Defense Department data and targeted large-scale studies.
Show full summary
- Veterans and families: Directs focused research on repetitive low-level blast injuries and dementia, requires at least two large-scale implementation studies and at least four large-scale quality-improvement studies, and funds a translational study of growth hormone therapy to test cognitive and quality-of-life effects.
- VA and Department of Defense researchers: Requires a VA–DoD data-sharing partnership established within one year, stores DoD data on the initiative's open platform, and mandates biennial reports on therapies developed and the partnership's evaluation.
- Research oversight and validation: Requires a National Academies contract within 60 days to validate brain and mental health biomarkers and produce biennial reports, plus ongoing assessments and biennial recommendations to Veterans' Affairs committees.
*Authorizes $5.0 million annually for FY2025–2030, totaling $30.0 million in authorized funding for the initiative.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More research on blast injuries and dementia
If enacted, the bill would explicitly add repetitive low-level blast exposure and dementia to the VA precision brain initiative. The VA would conduct a big-data assessment of clinical and non-clinical interventions for veterans with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries. The VA would run at least two large implementation studies, one translational study testing growth hormone replacement therapy, and at least four large quality-improvement studies to improve diagnosis and care.
Outside validation of brain health biomarkers
If enacted, the bill would require the VA to seek a contract with the National Academies within 60 days after enactment. The Academies would validate brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans. The Academies would report to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees at least once every two years on their validation work.
VA and Defense share brain data
If enacted, the bill would require the VA and the Department of Defense to set up a data-sharing partnership within one year. DoD would provide records from the Armed Forces, the United States Special Operations Command, and the Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium maintained by the Defense Health Agency. The shared data would be stored on the initiative's open platform. The VA would report every two years to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees on new therapies developed with the data, an evaluation of the partnership, and recommendations.
Annual funding for VA brain research
If enacted, the bill would authorize $5,000,000 to be appropriated to the VA for each fiscal year 2025 through 2030 to carry out the initiative. This authorization would not itself appropriate the money; actual spending would depend on future appropriations by Congress.
Regular reviews and reports on the initiative
If enacted, the bill would require the VA to assess all translational studies in progress and planned under the initiative, including those on blast exposure. The VA would send a report on that assessment to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees within 60 days after the assessment ends. The VA would also send reports at least once every two years with recommendations for immediate administrative and legislative actions to improve the initiative.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Miller-Meeks
IA • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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