title: Forging a critical alliance: Addressing the research needs of the United States critical illness and injury community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Discuss the research needs of the critical illness and injury communities in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Workshop session held during the 5 National Institutes of Health Symposium on the Functional Genomics of Critical Illness and Injury (November 15, 2007).
  
  
  METHODS
  The current clinical research infrastructure misses opportunities for synergy and does not address many important needs. In addition, it remains challenging to rapidly and properly implement system-wide changes based upon reproducible evidence from clinical research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Author presentations, panel discussion, attendee feedback.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The critical illness and injury research communities seek better communication and interaction, both of which will improve the breadth and quality of acute care research. Success in meeting these needs should come from cooperative and strategic actions that favor collaboration, standardization of protocols, and strong leadership. An alliance framed on common goals will foster collaboration among experts to better promote clinical trials within the critically ill or injured patient population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The U.S. Critical Illness and Injury Trials Group was funded to create a clinical research framework that can reduce the barriers to investigation using an investigator-initiated, evidence-driven, inclusive approach that has proven successful elsewhere. This alliance will provide an annual venue for systematic review and strategic planning that will include framing the research agenda, raising awareness for the value of acute care research, gathering and promoting best practices, and bolstering the critical care workforce.
authors: Center for Critical Illness and Health Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO, USA. cobb@wustl.edu
authors: J Perren
authors: JP
authors: Cobb
authors: Frederick P
authors: FP
authors: Ognibene
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Ingbar
authors: Henry J
authors: HJ
authors: Mann
authors: David B
authors: DB
authors: Hoyt
authors: Derek C
authors: DC
authors: Angus
authors: Alvin V
authors: AV
authors: Thomas
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Danner
authors: Anthony F
authors: AF
authors: Suffredini
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*