National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations

NAVREF's top initiative is to enhance access to cutting-edge care for veterans at VA medical centers.

Vision: NAVREF envisions a nation in which veterans receive the finest care based on innovative research and education.

Mission: NAVREF builds strong research and innovations communities through support and collaboration.

First, NAVREF has partnered with VA's Office of Research & Development on a new initiative = Access to Clinical Trials for Veterans or ACT for Veterans. The ACT initiative seeks to establish VA as a partner of choice for industry-sponsored clinical trials. NAVREF is helping ORD take the following steps:
- establish a single point of contact across the VA research enterprise for all externally-funded clinical studies
- increase collaboration with external stakeholders
- design efficient, streamlined enterprise processes
- reduce clinical trial start-up timelines by 100 days

In support of the ACT for Veterans initiative, NAVREF will deliver educational materials and training workshops that will enhance the professionalism and efficiency of clinical research staff working at VA hospitals.

NAVREF has a 28-year history of collaborating with VA and supporting research activities for Veterans through our member network of 75 VA-affiliated Non-Profit Corporations (NPCs). No one understands VA extramural research administration as well as NAVREF and our members. We have a proven record of supporting federal and industry-sponsored research as evidenced by the $1 billion of research activity administered over the last four years, annually administering 3,000 research projects and supporting 2,100 investigators. NAVREF understands the needs of Veterans and VA researchers and is responsive to bio-medical industry needs. NAVREF has built strong, trusted relationships throughout the clinical trial community that help us bridge the gaps between VA and pharmaceutical firms.

NAVREF partnered with VA's Office of Research & Development in April 2018 on the ACT for Veterans initiative to increase access to quality clinical trials for veterans. As a member of the Steering Committee for this initiative, NAVREF oversaw the successful efforts of five workgroups which led to policy changes, process improvements, and establishment within VA's Office of Research and Development of the Partnered Research Program.

NAVREF joined forces with the Association of VA Hematology/Oncology (AVAHO) and Cohen Veterans Bioscience to establish a Clinical Trial Facilitator position to support VA's Partnered Research Program. NAVREF currently employs a Clinical Trial Liaison to help bring industry-sponsored clinical trials to VA medical centers.

Initial indications show significantly reduced timelines for starting up multi-site industry-sponsored clinical trials at VA sites.

NAVREF's advocacy efforts led to two new laws enhancing the ability of VA-affiliated nonprofits to support extramural research activity at VA medical centers and a VA policy change allowing use of commercial institutional review boards.

Next, Act II of the ACT for Veterans initiative will focus on improving recruitment and enrollment of clinical trial participants at VA hospitals.