1. Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
Brief Overview By
Mark Vieth, Coordinator
Defense Health Research Consortium

2. CDMRP History and Brief Facts
Established by Congress in Fiscal Year 1992
Funded Annually by Defense Appropriations Act
Total Appropriations FY92-17: $11.9 Billion
Total grants/contracts awarded FY92-15: 14,829
Includes dozens of programs directed by Congress:
Disease Specific: Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, NF, Tuberous Sclerosis
“Catch All”: Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (14 cancers)
Peer Review Medical Research Program (dozens of conditions)
FY97: Prostate Cancer Research Program Funded at $90 million

6. Defense Health Research Consortium
Coalition of 35 patient advocacy, medical provider and veterans organizations.
Includes ZERO, Prostate Cancer Foundation, American Urological Association, US TOO.
Advocates for funding of medical research at DoD (CDMRP).
$1+ billion portfolio, including $90 million for PRCRP in FY17.
Advocate on annual Appropriations and Authorizations.
Website:

7. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
Senate Bill includes four sections harmful to CDMRP
- Narrowly defines what research is eligible
- Adds red tape contracting and auditing requirements for grants
- DOD: “impact force readiness and medical providers’ readiness.”
- DOD: “eliminate military family and military retiree-relevant medical research and development, inhibit military medical training programs, and impact future health care cost avoidance.”

8. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
Bipartisan amendment filed by Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Blunt (R- MO) to nullify egregious provisions.
Cosponsored by 53 (majority) Senators!
Never Received a Vote
Conference Strategy:
- Durbin-Blunt letter signed by 54 Senators
- Bipartisan House letter: 60 House members
Deadline: October 18

9. How You Can Help! #ResearchNotRedTape Twitter campaign
gle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag
Contact Your Representative!
Senate letter closed
Urge them to cosign the Costello-King-Bishop-Loebsack letter to protect medical research at DoD!