Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
Introduced
Summary
Precision brain health research for Veterans. This bill would expand the VA's Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative to add repetitive low‑level blast exposure and dementia. It would create a VA‑Department of Defense data‑sharing partnership, direct new translational and implementation studies, require recurring oversight reports, and authorize ongoing funding.
Show full summary
- Veterans and families: Veterans with likely low‑level repetitive blast injuries would get targeted research on diagnosis and care, including at least two large‑scale implementation studies and a translational study testing growth hormone replacement therapy.
- VA health system and providers: The VA would conduct a big‑data assessment and at least four large‑scale quality improvement studies to improve detection and treatment pathways for affected patients.
- Researchers and Defense partners: The bill would require a VA‑DoD data‑sharing partnership that includes Armed Forces, U.S. Special Operations Command, and Defense Health Agency consortium data and a biennial report on new therapies, partnership evaluation, and recommendations to Congress.
*Would authorize $5 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2030, totaling $30 million in authorized funding for the initiative.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual funding for VA brain research
If enacted, the bill would authorize $5,000,000 to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030 to carry out the initiative. This authorization would not itself spend money; Congress would still have to appropriate the funds. The money would be for the Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative's brain health research and related activities.
Veterans and Defense data sharing
If enacted, the VA and Department of Defense would have to set up a data-sharing partnership within one year. The shared data must be stored on the initiative's open platform and include Armed Forces, U.S. Special Operations Command, and Defense Health Agency consortium data. The VA would submit a biennial report to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees about any new therapies from the shared data, an evaluation of the partnership, and recommendations. Within 60 days after enactment, the VA would seek a contract with the National Academies to validate brain and mental health biomarkers, and the Academies would report at least every two years. The VA would also assess all translational research and report within 60 days after that assessment ends.
More brain conditions studied for veterans
If enacted, the initiative would add repetitive low-level blast exposure and dementia to the brain and mental health conditions the VA studies. This would broaden which veterans can be included in research and program activities. The change would apply as part of the Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative upon enactment.
More research on blast-related brain injuries
If enacted, the VA would have to run focused research on veterans with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries. The initiative would do a big-data assessment, at least two large implementation studies, at least four large quality-improvement studies, and a translational study on growth hormone replacement therapy looking at cognition, quality of life, and brain structure. The work would include categorizing military jobs and units with higher exposure.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
IA • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov