Virginia lawmakers are advocating for the continued funding of a collaborative national research consortium focused on military combat exposure to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). In a letter to the Defense Health Agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the lawmakers are urging the agencies to keep supporting the initiative to improve the public health outcomes and quality of life for service members and veterans. Call for Continued Funding The lawmakers, including Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan and Reps. Beyer, Cline, Connolly, Kiggans, Scott, Spanberger, Wexton, and Wittman, emphasized the importance of continuing the funding for the research consortium. They highlighted the success of the current grant and expressed strong support for its continuation, especially in light of recent articles in The New York Times pointing out the challenges of diagnosing and treating brain injuries from low-level blasts in modern warfare. Significance of Research Consortium The Department of Defense (DoD) and the VA have been funding research on TBIs for over a decade, including a substantial investment in the Long-Term Impact of Military Relevant Brain Injury Consortium (LIMBIC). Led by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), LIMBIC consists of a nationwide team of 100 researchers across 19 states, 16 universities, 15 VA Medical Centers, and 9 DoD facilities. The consortium has built the world's largest ongoing cohort of combat-exposed service members and veterans, along with a massive dataset of more than 2.5 million individuals with TBI and related conditions, such as PTSD, pain, depression, and anxiety. Impact of Funding The funding provided for LIMBIC has already led to significant improvements in interventions for servicemembers and veterans affected by TBI and related conditions. Dr. David X. Cifu, Principal Investigator of LIMBIC, acknowledged the progress made but stressed that there is still more work to be done. He expressed gratitude for the lawmakers' advocacy and support for the critical research being conducted. In conclusion, the efforts of Virginia lawmakers to secure funding for the research consortium addressing military TBIs are crucial in advancing the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of these serious injuries affecting our service members and veterans.