Defense Health Agency Research and Engineering Directorate

The DHA Research and Engineering Directorate leads the discovery of innovative medical solutions responsive to the needs of combatant commands, the military services, and the Military Health System. The directorate guides research investments in military health and medicine that lead to solutions to enhance 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. This includes the Defense Health Program Research, Development, Test and Evaluation appropriations that support the health and medical mission of the MHS. The directorate guides innovative medical materiel products and clinical practice knowledge solutions from concept to product development. R&E also oversees several MHS centers of excellence which advance scientific knowledge and evidence-based practices to diagnose and treat conditions that impact service members and other beneficiaries.

R&E achieves its mission 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 Divisions

 Loose papers icon Science and Technology Portfolio Management Division

Develops research investment strategies for the Defense Health Program Science & Technology Program based on validated, prioritized joint requirements and manages the transition of successful S&T efforts into appropriate translational pathways to enhance warfighter medical care and inform health policy. 

icon showing a folderResearch Support & Implementation 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, implementation science, military health system research, regional research support centers and enterprise support for clinical trials and research data management.
Checklist icon   Clinical Investigations

Gears icon   Implementation Science

Icon showing data analysisMilitary Health System Research

Icon showing research analysis   Regional Research Support Centers 

   Research Data Management

   Clinical Trials Coordination

Microscope icon    National Museum of Health and Medicine

Preserves, inspires, and informs the history, research, and advancement of military and civilian medicine through world-class collections, digital technology, and public engagement.

Centers of Excellence

Conducts, evaluates, and translates the latest research into evidence-based practice for psychological health, ocular health, auditory and vestibular health, traumatic brain injury, and extremity injuries.

icon for Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence   Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence

icon showing an ear Hearing Center of Excellence

Icon showing brain inside head. Psychological Health Center of Excellence

Icon of a brain Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence

Eye icon Vision Center of Excellence

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