Abstract
We aim to provide advanced multidisciplinary research training in the emerging field of resuscitation science to
physician- and PhD-scientists to jump-start their progression to independence as investigators. Resuscitation
science is defined in this proposal as the medical treatment of ischemia-perfusion injury (i.e., cardiac arrest),
shock (i.e., tissue hypo-perfusion), acute lung injury, and subsequent other-organ injury such as renal
impairment. Collectively, these conditions afflict millions of patients every year and are associated with high
mortality and substantial morbidity. The proposed program will help alleviate a critical shortage of well-trained
and well-funded resuscitation science investigators. Most critically, the cross-discipline research training afforded
to program trainees should make them well-positioned to advance the field as a whole due to the common risk
factors, pathogenic mechanisms, and outcome phenotypes shared by conditions requiring resuscitation. The
strong multidisciplinary faculty/mentorship T32 program team is comprised of resuscitation scientists who excel
in both research and mentorship. Their expertise spans the fields of emergency medicine, cardiology,
nephrology, as well as pulmonary critical care, anesthesia critical care, surgical critical care, and pediatric critical
care. Research conducted by the mentorship team uses a wide spectrum of approaches which include clinical
trials, epidemiology/data science, and laboratory science, with many mentors combining two or more
approaches. Trainees in our program will focus their research training in one of these approaches; all will
however receive preliminary training in, and multidisciplinary exposure to, all three approaches. The NHLBI has
noted this sort of integration is critical for breakthrough advances in public health [1], and our emphasis on this
point will produce truly multidisciplinary, and in many cases translational investigators. The specific fellowship
training will combine a formalized didactic curriculum with a mentored project, training in research
communication, and career mentorship. The didactic program will draw from courses run by Harvard Catalyst
(CTSA), the Harvard School of Public Health, and the Center for Resuscitation Science and will include required
common and track-specific core courses and elective courses. Each fellow’s coursework will be individually
tailored to match personal objectives and goals developed with the mentorship team. The individualized
mentored research project will be designed and executed by the fellow under the guidance of his or her primary
mentor with assistance from other members of the program faculty. Fellows will be encouraged to collaborate
with mentors and fellows outside of their chosen track to broaden their research expertise. Training in
communication of research results through conference presentations and research papers, grant writing, and
general career development advice will be valuable additions to the core research training. At the completion of
this program fellows will be expected to meet defined metrics - multiple abstract presentations, manuscript
publications, and grant submissions - all key steps in their path toward research independence.