
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-135 Section 205(a)]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-135 Section 205(b)]
[CITE: 38USC7303]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
              PART V--BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES
 
 CHAPTER 73--VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
 
                       SUBCHAPTER I--ORGANIZATION
 
Sec. 7303. Functions of Veterans Health Administration: research 
        programs
        
    (a)(1) In order to carry out more effectively the primary function 
of the Administration and in order to contribute to the Nation's 
knowledge about disease and disability, the Secretary shall carry out a 
program of medical research in connection with the provision of medical 
care and treatment to veterans. Funds appropriated to carry out this 
section shall remain available until expended.
    (2) Such program of medical research shall include biomedical 
research, mental illness research, prosthetic and other rehabilitative 
research, and health-care-services research.
    (3) Such program shall stress--
        (A) research into spinal-cord injuries and other diseases that 
    lead to paralysis of the lower extremities; and
        (B) research into injuries and illnesses particularly related to 
    service.

    (4) In carrying out such research program, the Secretary shall act 
in cooperation with the entities described in section 7302(d) of this 
title.
    (b) Prosthetic research shall include research and testing in the 
field of prosthetic, orthotic, and orthopedic appliances and sensory 
devices. In order that the unique investigative material and research 
data in the possession of the Government may result in the improvement 
of such appliances and devices for all disabled persons, the Secretary 
(through the Under Secretary for Health) shall make the results of such 
research available to any person, and shall consult and cooperate with 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of 
Education, in connection with programs carried out under section 
204(b)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (relating to the 
establishment and support of Rehabilitation Engineering Research 
Centers).
    (c)(1) In conducting or supporting clinical research, the Secretary 
shall ensure that, whenever possible and appropriate--
        (A) women who are veterans are included as subjects in each 
    project of such research; and
        (B) members of minority groups who are veterans are included as 
    subjects of such research.

    (2) In the case of a project of clinical research in which women or 
members of minority groups will under paragraph (1) be included as 
subjects of the research, the Secretary shall ensure that the project is 
designed and carried out so as to provide for a valid analysis of 
whether the variables being tested in the research affect women or 
members of minority groups, as the case may be, differently than other 
persons who are subjects of the research.
    (d)(1) The Secretary, in carrying out the Secretary's 
responsibilities under this section, shall foster and encourage the 
initiation and expansion of research relating to the health of veterans 
who are women.
    (2) In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall consult 
with the following to assist the Secretary in setting research 
priorities:
        (A) Officials of the Department assigned responsibility for 
    women's health programs and sexual trauma services.
        (B) The members of the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.
        (C) Members of appropriate task forces and working groups within 
    the Department (including the Women Veterans Working Group and the 
    Task Force on Treatment of Women Who Suffer Sexual Abuse).

(Added Pub. L. 102-40, title IV, Sec. 401(a)(3), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 
211; amended Pub. L. 102-405, title III, Sec. 302(c)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 
106 Stat. 1984; Pub. L. 103-452, title I, Sec. 102(a), (b)(1), Nov. 2, 
1994, 108 Stat. 4785, 4786; Pub. L. 105-220, title IV, Sec. 414(c), Aug. 
7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1242.)

                       References in Text

    Section 204(b)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, referred to in 
subsec. (b), is classified to section 764(b)(3) of Title 29, Labor.


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105-220 substituted ``section 204(b)(3) 
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973'' for ``section 204(b)(2) of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 762(b)(2))''.
    1994--Pub. L. 103-452 transferred text of subsec. (c) to the end of 
subsec. (a)(1), struck out subsec. (c) designation, and added new 
subsecs. (c) and (d).
    1992--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102-405 substituted ``Under Secretary for 
Health'' for ``Chief Medical Director''.


                 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Research

    Section 122(a) of Pub. L. 102-405 provided that: ``In carrying out 
research and awarding grants under chapter 73 of title 38, United States 
Code, the Secretary shall assign a high priority to the conduct of 
research on mental illness, including research regarding (1) post-
traumatic stress disorder, (2) post-traumatic stress disorder in 
association with substance abuse, and (3) the treatment of those 
disorders.''


               Research Relating to Women Veterans' Health

    Pub. L. 102-585, title I, Sec. 109, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4948, 
provided for initiation and expansion of research relating to health of 
women veterans and authorization of appropriations for fiscal years 1993 
through 1995 to carry out such studies, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103-
452, title I, Sec. 102(b)(2), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4786.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 3904, 7317, 7362 of this 
title.
