As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs [OASD(HA)], the Defense Health Agency, Research, Development, and Acquisition (DHA RDA) Directorate manages and executes the Defense Health Program (DHP) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation. The US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) provides Defense Medical Research and Development Program (DMRDP) execution management support for the six DHP core research program areas listed below.

Each of these major research program areas is strategically guided by a committee, called a Joint Program Committee, or JPC, which consists of Department of Defense (DoD) and non-DoD medical and military technical experts. These experts work through coordinated efforts to translate guidance into research and development needs. They also have key responsibilities for making funding recommendations and providing program management support. Within the USAMRMC, operational support for the JPCs is provided by multiple execution agents, including the CDMRP, individual laboratories, and advanced developers. CDMRP provides program and award management support primarily for basic through translational research (Program Elements 6.1 through 6.3) and also works closely with the JPCs to transition products to advanced development.