The DHA Research and Engineering (R&E) Directorate leads the discovery of innovative medical solutions responsive to the needs of Combatant Commands, the military Services, and the Military Health System by guiding research investments in military health and medicine that lead to solutions for enhancing future warfighter health and readiness.
R&E manages the enterprise research portfolio to improve medical care for service members, their families, and all Military Health System beneficiaries. R&E drives the discovery of new capabilities to improve medical care through management of the Defense Health Program (DHP) Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriations that support the health and medical mission of the MHS. R&E shepherds innovative medical materiel products and clinical practice knowledge solutions from concept to product development. The directorate also oversees several MHS centers of excellence, established to help the Department of Defense speed the advancement of scientific knowledge and evidence-based practices to diagnose and treat diseases and conditions that impact service members and other beneficiaries.
R&E achieves its goals by:
- Strategically managing the enterprise research portfolio to meet prioritized needs
- Producing new knowledge through health studies and analyses
- Synthesizing evidence from existing knowledge
- Applying findings to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based solutions to improve health outcomes
R&E Impact
R&E gathers, consolidates, and prioritizes needs and gaps in research areas and clinical practice; partners with academic institutions, private industry, research organizations, and government to undertake research and clinical investigations; and translates research results into practical/clinical knowledge for products and policy recommendations to improve care.
R&E Divisions and Branches
R&E is comprised of two divisions, the Research Portfolio Management Division (RPMD) and the Research Support Division (RSD).
RPMD improves health outcomes and supports a ready medical force by advancing excellence in military medical health research, advocating for prevention and awareness, and providing health care policy recommendations. Within RPMD, the Science and Technology Portfolio Management Branch develops research investment strategies for DHP RDT&E funding that supports Science and Technology projects and the National Museum of Health and Medicine is responsible for the preservation of military medical and biomedical historical assets.
Science and Technology Portfolio Management Branch
National Museum of Health and MedicineNational Museum of Health and Medicine
RSD supports and enables enterprise-wide scientific studies, research activities, and analyses to advance MHS research and engineering priorities. The division performs research support functions in joint clinical investigations, research protections, and implementation science and is also home to five centers of excellence. RSD branches are:
Clinical Investigations Program BranchClinical Investigations Program Branch
Implementation Science BranchImplementation Science Branch
Research Protections BranchResearch Protections Branch
Centers of Excellence
Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of ExcellenceExtremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence
Hearing Center of ExcellenceHearing Center of Excellence
Psychological Health Center of ExcellencePsychological Health Center of Excellence
Traumatic Brain Injury Center of ExcellenceTraumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence
Vision Center of ExcellenceVision Center of Excellence