Private Sector Groups Present Cutting Edge Technology and Treatment Options for Veterans at Hearing

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, May 13, 2009, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner conducted a hearing to learn about the innovative technology and treatments which are currently available or are in development to help veterans.  The hearing focused on how private sector companies work with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide veterans access to the latest technologies. 

“While I applaud VA for being the leader in research and treatment of such conditions as traumatic brain injury (TBI), it is important that our veterans have access to other ground-breaking treatment modalities which have been developed in the private sector,” said Chairman Filner.

“We are here today not to advocate for any company in particular, but to highlight the recent discoveries in treatments and technologies that result from the incredible ingenuity of Americans.  There is a shared sense that we can do better for our veterans and for their recoveries.”
The first panel discussed research, new inventions, and technological upgrades that could be used to help veterans recover.  Products to improve the delivery of health care to rural veterans were discussed which included new upgrades to patient video conferencing equipment and mobile surgery units which would allow VA to provide care instead of contracting out surgical services.  Witnesses discussed cutting edge research that has proven beneficial for those with vision and hearing loss by restoring the function of damaged tissue using stem cells.  Also discussed was screening technology which allows early detection of oral cancer.  Some treatments and technologies are in use at VA medical centers across the country, but a national universal implementation plan is lacking.

The second panel stressed the importance of aggressive and diligent research to work towards faster and more accurate diagnoses of conditions that affect veterans.  Dr. Howard Federoff, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences at Georgetown University, testified:

  “Members of this Committee know very well that the vast majority of military personnel who are returning from the field having experienced TBI are very young.  God willing, they have long lives ahead.  Therefore it is incumbent upon us to ensure that we are aggressive in just this kind of research endeavor that looks beyond the immediate consequences of even mild TBI.  With this kind of research, we can address the ‘silent epidemic’ before it takes a toll on the long-term quality of life of those who are serving our country.  I urge you to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs, in close concert with both the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services, remain vigilant in pursuing the identification both of these bio-molecular signatures and of effective therapeutic responses to TBI.” 

Filner concluded: “Many of the ideas discussed today provide benefits to veterans and save money.  By detecting cancer earlier, we can eliminate costly treatment at the same time we reduce the number of veterans that suffer from this horrible disease.  There is new technology that literally opens up fields of vision for brain injured patients.  I would like to thank these groups for coming today to help generate excitement for the new opportunities for healing for our injured veterans.  If it works, let’s use it!” 

Witness List

Panel 1

*       David Bethune, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Zila, Inc.

Accompanied by

o       David Sidransky, M.D., Director of the Head and Neck Cancer
Research Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

*       Robert Beckman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Brainport
Technologies, Wicab, Inc.

*       David Broecker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alkermes,
Inc.

*       Mark Munroe, Senior Vice President, Mobile Medical International
Corporation

*       Stanley Stern, President, TeleMed Network

*       David Scadden, M.D., Founder, Fate Therapeutics, Inc.

Panel 2

*       Howard Federoff, Ph.D., M.D., Executive Vice President for
Health Sciences, Georgetown University

*       Nelson M. Handal, M.D., FAPA, Founder and Medical Director,
Harmonex, Inc., CliniCom

*       James Schoeneck, Chief Executive Officer, BrainCells Inc.