In the final Fiscal Year 2025 funding bill that Congress passed back in March, appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD)’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) were cut by 57%. This has completely eliminated specific funding for research related to Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychological health. Research related to TSC and TBI and psychological health may be able to compete with other conditions for some funding, but there is no longer specific funding guaranteed for them and no path forward for PTE.

The CDMRP originated in 1992 to investigate new biomedical research approaches for conditions disproportionately affecting military members, veterans, their families, and the public. Within the CDMRPs, the Tuberous Sclerosis Research Program was launched in 2002, TBI & Psychological Health in 2007, and the Epilepsy Research Program in 2015. 

The elimination of this funding will have harmful impacts and set back innovation. TBI is a leading and significant form of injury in service people, especially those in combat and training environments, and it can lead to post-traumatic epilepsy in 50% of those with severe TBI.  For many years, these research programs have funded cutting-edge research to better understand and address these neurological conditions that can affect Service Members, Veterans, and their families. 

Ask Congress to restore CDMRP funding to continue progress in vital epilepsy research.

We strongly encourage you to share your own personal experience as a member of the epilepsy community, especially if you or your loved ones are a veteran or service member. More personalized comments will have significantly more impact.  

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