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VA secretary says no large-scale halt to clinical trials; acknowledges oversight gaps
Summary
Secretary Collins told House appropriators that VA research and clinical trial enrollment have not been broadly halted, but he acknowledged the department lacks centralized oversight of roughly 1,500 clinical trials and said the VA is reviewing trial management and coordination.
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Collins told House appropriators that VA research and clinical trial activity has not been broadly canceled, while acknowledging the department needs better central oversight of trials.
Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz and other lawmakers cited leaked emails from VA staff and news reporting alleging that clinical-trial enrollments and some research projects had stopped. "Have clinical trials enrollment stopped? Have there been any — enrollment stopping?" the ranking member asked.
Collins responded directly: "No research, no VA research trials have been canceled, period." He disputed specific allegations about trials that news reports said were halted, saying one cited head-and-neck cancer trial in Pittsburgh had not yet begun recruiting and therefore could not have been halted.
At the same time, Collins said the VA does not have a centralized management system for clinical trials and estimated there are roughly 1,500 trials underway across the enterprise. He described a review to inventory trials, identify what is working and what is not, and to ensure research does not interfere with or displace clinical care.
Members pressed for detailed answers and documentation. The secretary committed to follow up with specific information and to work with members to identify whether any planned trials were delayed and why.
