China now conducts more early-stage clinical trials than the United States, and in 2025, Chinese companies captured nearly half of global pharmaceutical licensing activity by dollar amount. AdvertisementMany of the capabilities envisioned by HHS are already being demonstrated by leaders across the health care industry. This approach should be viewed not merely as health care policy but as economic and industrial policy. By modernizing clinical research and reducing development delays, the U.S. can reinforce its position as the world’s leading biotechnology ecosystem. In many ways, the VA could become the equivalent of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for clinical research.