CNTR Advocates for ARPA-H and CDMRP Funding – Coalition for National Trauma Research
The Coalition for National Trauma Research recently participated in two key federal advocacy activities aimed at strengthening national investment in medical research and defense health innovation.
Support for Robust FY26 Funding for ARPA-H
As a member organization of the Research!America coalition, CNTR signed onto a multi-organization letter urging Congressional appropriators to provide at least $1.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2026 for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The letter emphasizes that ARPA-H’s budget must supplement, not supplant, existing support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other health agencies.
The coalition letter highlights ARPA-H’s rapid progress since its launch in 2022, including the initiation of 25 programs and nearly 160 funded projects across all 50 states. It underscores the agency’s unique focus on high-risk, high-reward research designed to accelerate breakthrough innovations—from bioprinted organs and new antibiotic discovery platforms to AI-driven rare-disease diagnostics and mobile care delivery models.
By signing the letter, CNTR reinforced its commitment to ensuring that transformative, cross-disciplinary health research continues to receive sustained federal investment.
Engagement in Congressional Briefing on Defense Health Research
Colonel Mark G. Hartell, Director of CDMRP, briefed staff members and guests.
On November 18, CNTR’s Director of Clinical Research, Serina Zorilla, attended a Congressional Briefing hosted by the Defense Health Research Consortium, an event focused on informing Congressional staff about the critical role of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
Col. Mark Hartell and his team provided a comprehensive overview of the CDMRP portfolio, which currently spans 35 disease- and condition-specific research programs. Their presentation highlighted how CDMRP accelerates innovation by funding high-impact, high-need research areas often not covered by traditional federal mechanisms.
The briefing also featured powerful testimonials from patient advocates whose lives have been directly improved by CDMRP-funded advancements. These personal stories underscored the transformative potential of defense-funded medical research and the importance of sustained Congressional support.
