Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) has grown to be the largest biomedical research institution in southeastern Virginia. Research has grown steadily at EVMS and it is an integral part of the medical school's mission of educating medical professionals and improving health care. The research receives support from a variety of foundations, state and federal sponsors, including the NIH. Currently, there are over one hundred faculty conducting basic and clinical research at EVMS focused mainly in areas where the community has pressing needs.

EVMS is currently in the process of establishing four interdisciplinary research centers as part of a major, multi-year Research Strategic Initiative for Research Development, guided by Dean Gerald Pepe. These strategic initiatives stress the clinical research component of our biomedical research in areas that match the health needs of our community. Our research mandate is that patient benefit be realized through concerted movement of basic and clinical research toward clinical trials and translation into practice.