Burn Center Clinical Research Division

Clinical Research at the Burn Center focuses on improving outcomes of patients who sustain not only burns, but also many other diseases. These include multi-system organ failure, inhalation injury, toxic epidermal necrolysis / Stevens-Johnson syndrome, necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections, and many others. The synergy between the USAISR's laboratory scientists and clinical researchers makes the Institute the U.S. Government's premiere translational research center focusing on trauma, burns, and critical care of the combat wounded-able to take clinical problems to the laboratory and translate laboratory advances to the clinic, operating room, or battlefield. Our burn-centered research has led to fundamental advances in the multidisciplinary care of burn casualties which have become the standard for burn care throughout the world.

Highlighted Major Capabilities

Pulse oximetry on monitor screen Strategy to Avoid Excessive Oxygen for Critically Ill Trauma Patients (SAVE-O2) The objective is to determine the effectiveness of a multimodal educational intervention to reduce supplemental oxygen use in critically injured patients. Investigators will also evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of the more targeted use of oxygen therapy.

Resuscitation with enteral fluids: A prospective observational study to reduce IV-related edema (REFORM) The objective is to compare the intravenous fluid resuscitation requirement for patients who receive enteral resuscitation and those that do not.

ketamine Continuous ketamine infusions for ICU sedation The objective of this study is to compare the amount of adjunct analgesics and sedative patients require to meet their goal sedation levels while on ketamine, versus while not receiving ketamine.

Plasma Resuscitation without Lung Injury (PROPOLIS) The objective of this study is to compare pathogen-reduced plasma to usual care, in the resuscitation of patients with shock secondary to extensive burns.

Randomized trial of enteral glutamine to minimize thermal injury: A multicenter pragmatic RCT (RE-ENERGIZE) The objectives of this trial are to determine the overall treatment effect and safety of glutamine in burn patients.

Short versus long duration of antimicrobial therapy after source control for necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections (NECSkin Study) The objective is to evaluate the non-inferiority of short versus long duration of antimicrobial therapy on Necrotizing Infection Clinical Composite Endpoints (NICCE).

Lumify ultrasound probe Use of Philips Lumify Point-of-Care Handheld Ultrasound to Identify Smoke Inhalation Injury (LUMIFY) The purpose of this proposal is to provide necessary data to develop a next-generation smoke inhalation lung injury detection system using lung ultrasound.

Spectral Reflectance in the Airway of Healthy and Injured Humans The objective is to compare tracheal and esophageal spectral reflectance in healthy subjects and tracheal reflectance only in burn patients with and without inhalation injury.