119 STAT. 3182
PUBLIC LAW 109–163—JAN. 6, 2006
(3) enabling the sharing of blast injury health hazards and survivability data collected through such projects, programs, and activities with the programs of the Department of Defense; (4) working with the Director, Defense Research and Engineering and the Secretaries of the military departments to ensure resources are adequate to also meet non-medical requirements related to blast injury prevention, mitigation, and treatment; and (5) ensuring that a joint combat trauma registry is established and maintained for the purposes of collection and analysis of contemporary combat casualties, including casualties with traumatic brain injury. (c) MEDICAL RESEARCH EFFORTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The executive agent designated under subsection (a) shall review and assess the adequacy of medical research efforts of the Department of Defense as of the date of the enactment of this Act relating to the following: (A) The characterization of blast effects leading to injury, including the injury potential of blasts in various environments. (B) Medical technologies and protocols to more accurately detect and diagnose blast injuries, including improved discrimination between traumatic brain injuries and mental health disorders. (C) Enhanced treatment of blast injuries in the field. (D) Integrated treatment approaches for members of the Armed Forces who have a combination of traumatic brain injuries and mental health disorders or other injuries. (E) Such other blast injury matters as the executive agent considers appropriate. (2) REQUIREMENTS FOR RESEARCH EFFORTS.—Based on the assessment under paragraph (1), the executive agent shall establish requirements for medical research efforts described in that paragraph in order to enhance and accelerate those research efforts. (3) OVERSIGHT OF RESEARCH EFFORTS.—The executive agent shall establish, coordinate, and oversee Department-wide medical research efforts relating to the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of blast injuries, as necessary, to fulfill requirements established under paragraph (2). (d) OTHER RELATED RESEARCH EFFORTS.—The Director, Defense Research and Engineering, in coordination with the executive agent designated under subsection (a) and the Director of the Joint IED Defeat Task Force, shall— (1) review and assess the adequacy of current research efforts of the Department on the prevention and mitigation of blast injuries; (2) based on subsection (c)(1), establish requirements for further research; and (3) address any deficiencies identified in paragraphs (1) and (2) by establishing, coordinating, and overseeing Department-wide research and development initiatives on the prevention and mitigation of blast injuries, including explosive detection and defeat and personnel and vehicle blast protection.
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