Modification of Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative

Section 305 of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (Public Law 116–171; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended—(1)in subsection (a), by striking and such other mental health conditions and inserting repetitive low-level blast exposure, dementia, and such other brain and mental health conditions; and(2)by adding at the end the following new subsections:

(f)

Repetitive low-Level blast exposure research

In carrying out the initiative under subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct the following research: (1)A big-data assessment of the clinical and non-clinical interventions that are illustrating positive outcomes for patients within the health system of the Veterans Health Administration with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries, including a categorization of military occupational specialties known to experience higher levels of low-level repetitive blast injuries.(2)Not fewer than two large-scale implementation studies of research-proven interventions within such health system for patients with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries, including a categorization of military occupational specialties known to experience higher levels of low-level repetitive blast injuries.(3)A translational research study on the use of growth hormone replacement therapy on the improvement of cognitive function, quality of life, brain structure, and other negative symptoms on patients within such health system with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries.(4)Not fewer than four large-scale quality improvement studies on improving the diagnosis and care of veteran patients with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries.(g)

Assistance and report by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of the Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2024, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into a contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which the National Academies shall—(1)work in tandem with the initiative under subsection (a) on validation of brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans; and(2)not less frequently than once every two years, submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the work completed under paragraph (1). (h)

Assessment

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall conduct an assessment of all translational research studies in progress and planned under the initiative under subsection (a), including research under subsection (f).(2)

Report

Not later than 60 days after completion of the assessment conducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the assessment. (i)

Report

Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the initiative under subsection (a).(j)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $5,000,000 to carry out the initiative under subsection (a) for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2034.