The State of Arizona is investing in the future of veteran health with a $150,000 appropriation to ASTO for FY26. Managed by the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation (OTEF), these funds empower the AZAdvances initiative to bridge the gap between life science entrepreneurship and patient care. By accelerating health innovations and strengthening the local workforce, OTEF/AZAdvances and the Arizona Health Innovation Trust Fund (AHIT) are working to ensure a healthier future for all Arizonans.
The 2025-2026 AZAdvances Improving Health for Veterans were awarded to Life365, MiiHealth.AI, Regenesis Medical, and the Ndee Bikiyaa (The People’s Farm), White Mountain Apache Tribe.
Arizona Health Innovators Compete for Grant Funds
For the FY26 budget cycle, the application process for the AZAdvances Improving Health for Veterans program was conducted through a formal “Call for Proposals” managed by the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation (OTEF). Applicants submitted their proposals directly to OTEF/AZAdvances in the fall of 2025. Proposals were required to focus on health innovation or workforce development specifically designed to benefit Arizona’s veteran community. Leaders from Arizona’s Veteran Community along with life science and business leaders scored the applications as part of the due diligence and selection process.
Announcing the 2025-2026 Improving Health for Veterans Grants
Advancing Health Innovation
Life365 will improve health and support Veterans by modernizing the tools used in home‑based care and helping bridge the gap between outdated VA monitoring systems and today’s intuitive, connected technology. Veterans will benefit from faster setup, greater independence, and more reliable connectivity-even in rural and remote regions. Earlier engagement and easier‑to‑use technology support better management of chronic conditions, reduce avoidable ER visits and hospitalizations, and strengthen ties between Veterans and their care teams. Life365’s long‑term goal is to help the VA scale toward monitoring millions of Veterans with technology that is sustainable, low‑burden, and designed for hands‑free use-ensuring connected care becomes an accessible and trusted part of every Veteran’s health journey.
MiiHealth AI will work with Blue Bell Behavioral Health Casa Grande to enhance behavioral health care delivery for veterans, service members, and their families through the integration of advanced AI-powered technology. This funding will enable the staged implementation of MiiHealth AI’s platform within Blue Bell’s outpatient and intensive outpatient programs, directly addressing critical gaps in access, timeliness, and continuity of care. The goal is to demonstrate how earlier intervention can deliver a reduction in crisis events, hospitalizations or even severe deterioration.
Regenesis Medical‘s pre-clinical research project investigates an innovative, non-invasive treatment for impaired nerve regeneration. Peripheral neuropathies disproportionately affect Veterans, due to service-related injuries from combat or exposure to Agent Orange. Underlying conditions such as diabetes or metabolic disease are also prevalent in the Veteran population and exacerbate the PN etiology. Peripheral neuropathies significantly impair quality of life, mobility, and mental health. Current treatment options remain limited and are inconsistent in efficacy. Regenesis Medical’s Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy offers a safe, non-invasive, non-drug alternative treatment for Veterans with PN. Electromagnetic field therapy brings the point of care to the home and reduces the burdens on our Veteran patients, VA clinicians, and resources.
Developing Our Workforce
Ndee Bikiyaa (The People’s Farm) is a tribal-owned and operated farm whose mission is to restore personal and cultural health among the White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT) through agriculture. This veteran apprenticeship program will support the Ndée Bíkíyaa Farm, the White Mountain Apache Tribe’s food sovereignty initiative. The program promotes health, wellness, and cultural preservation through sustainable agriculture and traditional Apache farming practices, integrating ancestral knowledge with modern agricultural innovation to strengthen community food security and cultural identity. This apprenticeship offers veterans a unique opportunity to participate in therapeutic agriculture while learning sustainable farming practices rooted in traditional Apache land-based healing. The position provides hands-on training in all aspects of farm operations, nutrition education, and cultural preservation, while building workforce capacity in tribal food systems.