The Research and Engineering Directorate's Research Support Division supports and enables enterprise-wide scientific studies, research activities, and analyses to advance research priorities. The division performs research support functions in joint clinical investigations, research protections, and implementation science. In addition, the DHA centers of excellence identify research gaps and translate the latest research on extremity trauma and amputation, psychological health, ocular health, auditory health, and traumatic brain injuries to inform future research funding, clinical practice, and policy. The centers conduct health research studies, evidence synthesis, and data and policy analyses and produce rapid reviews, systematic reviews, reports to Congress, and reports and analyses for the clinical communities. RSD is comprised of the eight branches described below.
Provides funding and policy recommendations and oversight and management for clinical investigation programs at military hospitals and clinics. The Clinical Investigations Program (CIP) facilitates research and training to support graduate health sciences education and other allied health programs of the services to contribute to medical readiness and further enhance patient care in the MHS.
Provides support and consultation on using implementation science methods to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices into health care in the MHS, thereby improving health outcomes for service members and MHS beneficiaries. Implementation science is the scientific study of methods to promote the systematic adoption of research findings into routine clinical care.
Supports the DHA Institutional Official for human and animal use protocols and protection. The branch promotes policies and procedures that facilitate timely, effective reviews of human and animal subject research and ensure that research is conducted in accordance with applicable rules and ethical guidelines.
DHA Centers of Excellence
Leads efforts to enhance collaboration between care providers in the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and conduct scientific research to minimize the effects of traumatic injuries and improve clinical outcomes.
Fosters and promotes the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, rehabilitation, and research of hearing loss and auditory injury among U.S. military personnel and veterans.
Works to improve the lives of our nation's service members, veterans, and their families by advancing excellence in military psychological health care research.
Unifies a system of TBI health care, reliably advancing the science for the warfighter and ready to meet future brain health challenges.
Leads and advocates for programs and initiatives to improve vision health, optimize readiness, and enhance quality of life for service members and veterans.