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