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Thank you to everyone who joined us for NAVREF's 34th Annual Conference! After a year of meetings in little boxes on a screen, it meant so much to be in the same room again: putting faces to names, catching up over coffee, and picking up conversations right where we left off. So many of you told us this was the best conference you've been to, and honestly, we felt the same. That's because of you. This year's theme, Connecting the Dots, really came to life. Our community stretches across 75+ NPCs nationwide, along with our VA partners, researchers, funders, and industry colleagues, and this week was a reminder of how much more we accomplish for Veterans when we work together. 
Tell us how we didYour feedback takes about five minutes and directly shapes next year's program. Conference resources11th Annual Awards for Distinguished Service & Innovation 2026 NAVREF Award RecipientsPartnerships for Progress in Veterans' Health Award Brittany Baber Executive Director, Lowcountry Center for Veterans Research R. Amanda C. LaRue, PhD Associate Chief of Staff for Research, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Timothy Stemmler, PhD Vice President for Research, Medical University of South Carolina Presented with the AAMC, this award recognizes the three-way collaboration behind the Ralph H. Johnson VA's 2023 designation as the VA's national coordinating center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. Innovation and Best Practices Award The VA Los Angeles Food Hub Jane Cheung Executive Director, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Research and Education Foundation Michael Ong, MD, PhD Associate Chief of Staff for Research, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Genentech Supported by a grant from Genentech, a member of the Roche group Operating in the region with the nation's highest concentration of food-insecure Veterans, the Food Hub pairs dignified food access with integrated clinical care and now serves as a national model. Board of Directors Distinguished Service Award Thomas Konopka Board Member, Buffalo Institute for Medical Research A decorated combat Veteran who served with the 82nd Airborne Division, Konopka has served on Buffalo VA boards and committees since 2010, including the Institutional Review Board and Research and Development Committee. Barbara West Award for Distinguished Service Antonio J. Laracuente Director of Field Operations (Retired), VA Office of Research and Development Laracuente spent sixteen years as a nonprofit corporation executive director before leading VA ORD field operations from 2021 to 2025, and is a former Chair of the NAVREF Board of Directors. Barbara West Award for Distinguished Service Peggy Bradley Executive Director, Biomedical Research & Education Foundation of Southern Arizona Bradley received the award as she concludes her term as Chair of the NAVREF Board of Directors and retires from a career in VA-affiliated research administration. By honoring the partnerships, innovation, and long service that make Veterans' research possible, NAVREF reaffirms its commitment to a research enterprise that delivers real impact for Veterans. Keep the conversation goingMarch 2027 NAVREF Essentials TrainingNew Orleans, Louisiana Built for new executive directors, new board members, and new NPC staff. Know someone just getting started? Send them our way. 2027 · Dates Coming Soon 35th Annual ConferenceAustin, Texas We're already counting down to seeing you again next year. More details coming soon. For NPCs & VA Sites Request a ConsultationDoes your NPC or VA site need support growing or modernizing its operations? From day-to-day processes to long-term growth, our team is happy to talk it through. Don't hesitate to reach out. Contact Our TeamFor Industry Partner with VAInterested in working with VA on clinical trials and other research collaborations? Request a no-cost consultation and we'll help you find the right path. Request a ConsultationAnd as always, our door is open. Whether it's a quick question or a big idea, reach out anytime. We're here for you. With gratitude, The NAVREF Team |
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CONFERENCE AGENDA:**Download the NAVREF app for easy access to the agenda, room assignment, and fellow attendees while you're at the conference** Download for Apple Download for Android
The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City 1250 South Hayes Street | Arlington, VA 22202 As Arlington’s premier luxury hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City offers an experience that beautifully blends modern luxury and traditional touches. Located minutes from Washington, D.C., this unforgettable Pentagon City, VA hotel allows guests to enjoy easy access to D.C.'s iconic landmarks, monuments, museums, and attractions. Group Room Block Rate: $275 per night (government per diem rate) Room Block Rate Cutoff Date: August 14, 2026 Hotel Phone: (703) 415-5000 *Please reference the group name "NAVREF 2026 Annual Conference" when making reservations by phone. 
NAVREF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:
NAVREF encourages every VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporation (NPC) to attend NAVREF’s Annual Conference. To make this goal more possible, NAVREF offers scholarships to assist member organizations with registration costs to attend our signature event. If your NPC is interested in applying for this scholarship, please complete the online application. The NAVREF Team will be in touch after we review your application. If you do not hear a response from us within 72 hours, please reach out to Hawk at htran@navref.org |
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