National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations

What National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations does

National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association founded in 1992 and headquartered in Washington, DC. It serves as the coordinating body for a network of over 75 congressionally authorized nonprofit corporations (NPCs) that operate as flexible research infrastructure at VA medical centers across the United States, bridging academic affiliates and local VA healthcare systems. NAVREF's mission is to advance partnerships between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and external stakeholders for veterans' health research, clinical trial access, and education. Its member NPCs collectively administer approximately $350 million annually in research funding, including $135.8 million in NIH funding in FY2024, with the largest individual NPC (NCIRE) administering roughly $69 million per year at the San Francisco VA.

NAVREF's core offerings are organized around four pillars: a membership platform providing resources, advocacy coordination, and member networking for VA-affiliated nonprofits; the Industry Partner Consortium (IPC), which connects pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies (including AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Genentech, and Takeda) with VA research opportunities; advocacy services lobbying Congress on VA research appropriations and federal research policy; and member services including the 2026 NAVREF Conference, NPC mentorship, general counsel services, best practice consultations, and a member directory. The organization is developing 'Rogue CTMS', a clinical trial management system, as its first internal technology product. NAVREF does not develop software products for external sale; its primary economic function is coordination, advocacy, and member services.

NAVREF's revenue model relies on membership dues from the NPC network and contributions from IPC industry partners. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by CEO Rashi Romanoff. Recent activity has been heavily focused on federal advocacy, including Congressional testimony, formal comments to NIH on the FY2027–2031 Strategic Plan Framework, and coalition-building with veteran service organizations (DAV, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Elizabeth Dole Foundation) to oppose the proposed federal research rule (OMB-2026-0034) and to defend VA Medical and Prosthetics Research funding. NAVREF serves as a critical chokepoint between the VA's research infrastructure and commercial clinical trial sponsors, providing industry partners access to a 9 million-veteran patient population and embedded clinical trial infrastructure that is difficult to replicate outside the VA system.

Name

National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations

Legal name

National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations

Website

https://navref.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NAVREF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association founded in 1992 that coordinates a network of over 75 congressionally authorized VA-affiliated nonprofit research foundations, advocates for VA research funding, and connects pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies with veteran-focused clinical trial opportunities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Association Services - Veterans Health Research

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health Research Funding Agencies (Public/Quasi-Public) (HLAJALAB)

Keywords

• Veterans health research
• Clinical trial partnerships
• VA research infrastructure
• Nonprofit association services
• Research funding advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: NAVREF generates revenue through membership fees from its network of over 75 congressionally authorized nonprofit foundations (NPCs).
2. Industry Partner Consortium: NAVREF receives support from industry partners including pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and medical device companies through its Industry Partner Consortium (IPC) program.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NAVREF is a nonprofit association that coordinates a network of over 75 congressionally authorized nonprofit research corporations (NPCs) affiliated with VA medical centers. It provides membership services, advocacy for VA research funding, an Industry Partner Consortium connecting pharmaceutical/biotech/medical device companies with VA research opportunities, and resources including annual conferences, mentorship, general counsel services, and best practice consultations.

Product overview

NAVREF is an association serving as the nation's preeminent organization dedicated to advancing research and education partnerships between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and stakeholders. Its core offering is a membership platform for over 75 congressionally authorized nonprofit corporations (NPCs) that serve as flexible VA research infrastructure. The portfolio includes advocacy services lobbying for VA research appropriations, NPC Member Resources providing conferences and mentorship, the Industry Partner Consortium connecting industry with VA research, and various publications including newsletters and annual reports. The organization does not offer a distinct software product but rather coordinates research partnerships, provides member services, and advocates for veterans' health research funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industry Partner Consortium (IPC) A consortium connecting pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies with VA research opportunities, providing guidance on partnering with VA-affiliated nonprofit corporations for clinical trials and health research. Members include AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, and others.
• NAVREF Advocacy Services Advocacy and lobbying services representing member interests before Congress, including testimony before Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee to protect and grow VA research funding.
• NPC Member Resources Member-only resources including annual conferences, mentorship programs, best practice consultations, general counsel services, and member directory access for VA-affiliated nonprofit research corporations.
• NAVREF Membership Membership program for VA-affiliated nonprofit research corporations (NPCs) providing access to resources, advocacy coordination, member networking, and benefits including general counsel services, mentorship resources, best practice consultations, and advocacy representation.

Quantifiable outcome

• NPCs bring in 1 of every 4 dollars invested in veterans' research.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAVREF coordinates funding advocacy with FOVA, a coalition of more than 80 medical specialty, patient advocacy, scientific and academic organizations committed to high quality care for veterans. FOVA activities include developing recommendations for VA research funding, monitoring the federal budget/appropriations process, meeting with key committee members, organizing congressional briefings, and testifying before appropriations subcommittees.
• Industry Partner Consortium MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPC members include major pharmaceutical and biotech companies: AstraZeneca, BCG, BioAffinity Technologies, Booz Allen Hamilton, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cognition Therapeutics, Eli Lilly & Company, Genentech, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Siemens Healthineers, Smith+Nephew, and Takeda. These partners collaborate on streamlining legal and regulatory processes, leveraging VA site-level data for trial design, and optimizing EHR modernization.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAV joined NAVREF in calling on policymakers to protect the stability, independence, and continuity of federally funded veterans' research. DAV expressed concern that proposed changes to federal Uniform Guidance could undermine scientific independence and disrupt long-term research into PTSD, traumatic brain injury, toxic exposures, and prosthetics.
• Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPVA partnered with NAVREF to express concerns about proposed federal research rules that could disrupt long-term research into spinal cord injury, neurological disorders, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and other conditions affecting veterans with catastrophic disabilities.
• Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerVVA joined the statement expressing concern that proposed changes could disrupt future capabilities of life-saving research, particularly related to toxic exposure issues and research capabilities developed over countless years of advocacy.
• Elizabeth Dole FoundationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Elizabeth Dole Foundation partnered with NAVREF, expressing deep concern that proposed changes could undermine the federal government's ability to support independent, innovative initiatives that serve the military and veteran community. The Foundation represents 14.3 million caregivers of wounded, ill, and injured veterans.
• U.S. House of RepresentativeskeyOthersThe House passed an amendment championed by Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA-46) and Jack Bergman (R-MI-01) to restore proposed $45 million cuts to VA Medical and Prosthetics Research account, directly responding to NAVREF and FOVA advocacy efforts.
• U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs CommitteekeyOthersNAVREF Board Vice Chair and NCIRE CEO Rebecca Rosales testified at a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Roundtable on VA Workforce and Hiring, advocating for improvements to VA's centralized hiring system that has caused significant delays in research staffing.
• U.S. Senate Appropriations SubcommitteekeyOthersNAVREF submitted written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies, urging sustained NIH funding and protection of the negotiated indirect cost rate process.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO): Largest U.S. biotech trade association representing pharma, biotech, and academic research institutions. Comparable as an industry association coordinating advocacy, member services, and industry partnerships in health research.
• PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America): Principal trade association for U.S. pharmaceutical companies. Comparable in providing advocacy, member services, and industry coordination, though operating at pharma-wide scale rather than VA-specific focus.
• AdvaMed (Advanced Medical Technology Association): Medical device industry trade association. Comparable as a health-industry association coordinating advocacy and member services, with several IPC members (Siemens Healthineers, Smith+Nephew) overlapping NAVREF's industry consortium.
• National Health Council: Nonprofit association of patient advocacy and health organizations. Comparable in coalition-based health policy advocacy and member coordination, though serving broader chronic disease populations rather than veterans specifically.

Direct peers

• Health Research Alliance: Alliance of nonprofit research funders supporting biomedical research. Highly comparable as an association coordinating nonprofit-funded health research, member services, and advocacy across distributed research infrastructure.
• Clinical Research Forum: Association of academic medical centers focused on clinical research. Comparable as an association coordinating clinical research infrastructure across distributed institutions, with member services, advocacy, and industry engagement.
• Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA): Direct peer coalition of 80+ medical specialty, patient advocacy, scientific, and academic organizations. FOVA partners closely with NAVREF on VA research funding advocacy and is described as a core strategic partner in the company data.

Emerging players

• Council on Governmental Relations (COGR): Association of research universities and medical schools focused on federal research policy. Comparable as an association coordinating research administration, federal funding advocacy, and regulatory compliance across research institutions—directly relevant to NAVREF's NPC base.
• Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS): Global trade organization representing clinical research sites. Comparable as a network coordinating clinical trial execution, workforce development, and industry partnerships across distributed research sites.
• Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO): Trade association for clinical research organizations (CROs). Comparable as an association connecting research infrastructure providers with industry sponsors, though focused on commercial CROs rather than nonprofit research foundations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/navref

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations