A federal research strategy for improving military health in future deployments

The federal government has a commitment to care for the health of the men and women who put themselves in harm´s way to protect the vital interests of the Nation. As we have learned from the Gulf War and other conflicts, the federal government must be able to rapidly respond to the health concerns of service members, veterans, and their family members. In response to this need the National Science and Technology Council has developed a comprehensive strategic plan that encompasses deployment health, records, research, and risk communications. The research component of the broader plan identifies several areas of research capability and capacity that need to be enhanced within the federal research sector in order to provide the type of rapid response that will be called for in the future. The goals, objectives, and strategies articulated by the plan focus heavily on epidemiological research (exposure and outcomes) and risk factor research (e.g. the health consequences of low level exposures of chemical warfare agents) that needs to be undertaken or enhanced