Research

The Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care engages in a wide spectrum of research programs, including laboratory, outcomes, and clinical research. All our studies are in compliance with the Partners Humans Research Committee, ensuring the safety of our patients.

Research - Clinical

Clinical research is an extremely important component of the Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care (TESSCC). Multiple clinical, basic science, translational, and injury prevention research projects run on an ongoing basis.

All TESSCC faculty is actively involved in research. The special interests of each physician are listed under their profile in the Physicians & Staff section.

A variety of clinical research projects are currently under way. The list below is only a snapshot of the clinical research work done in TESSCC and is displayed as an example and not a comprehensive picture of TESSCC’s entire clinical research agenda. Included are a number of multi-institutional trials that promote TESSCC’s collaborative spirit with other institutions and its philosophy about creating multi-disciplinary research teams from multiple facilities.

1. Falls from height: analysis of risk factors associated with incidence and extent of injury.
2. The role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the acute phase of head trauma.
3. The quality of post-traumatic life of elderly patients
4. Blunt cerebrovascular trauma
5. The value of repeat head Computed Tomography
6. Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in trauma patients
7. Linkage of prehospital and in-hospital teams by telemedicine
8. Upper extremity deep venous thrombosis
9. Efficacy of rfVIIa in trauma patients
10. Cervical spine clearance by Computed Tomography
11. Indications and rate of removal of removable inferior vena cava filters
12. Treatment of Blunt thoracic aortic injuries: surgical repair versus stenting

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Research - Lab

The Trauma Research Laboratory, led by Dr. Hasan Alam, was founded in 2005. The laboratory conducts 200 large animal and 400 small animal experiments per year. All the projects are approved by the Subcommittee on Research Animal Care (SRAC), ensuring the compliance with medical ethics. Funding for projects is provided through competitive grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH), The Office of Naval Research, The Department Of Defense, The Center for Integration of Medicine with Innovative Technology (CIMIT), and other sources.

The MGH Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care believes that translational research should target the early phase of injury. Although great strides have been made in treating the late consequences of trauma (sepsis, ARDS, organ failures), there is still relative lack of effective therapies and interventions at the prehospital and early in-hospital phase. At the Massachusetts General Hospital, our research targets critical aspects of early trauma care, focusing on clearly defined and achievable research goals.  We have assembled a team of individuals who are experts in this field and are capable of building upon the previous achievements. The major areas of research include:

1. Better methods for early control of bleeding
2. Improved resuscitation strategies
3. Advancements in treatment of central nervous system injuries
4. Development of new devices and tools
5. Novel strategies for tissue preservation during and after severe shock
6. Transfer of new findings rapidly into clinical practice through clinical trials.

The Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care is uniquely qualified to advance the care of the severely injured. Our team members bring together expertise in basic science research, execution of clinical trials, and delivery of excellent clinical care. The Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School provides access to a research infrastructure, subject matter experts, and a patient population that is unique in the world.

For more information regarding the Trauma Research Laboratory, please contact Karen Osborne at kosborne@partners.org.

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International Trauma Research Fellowship

The Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care (TESSCC) offers a research fellowship program providing physicians interested in research, an opportunity to accumulate a solid experience in an outstanding training program. The approved applicant will hold a Massachusetts General Hospital and a Harvard Medical School appointment as a Research Fellow. Applications by international candidates are encouraged. The program involves clinical and laboratory research activities, allowing the Fellow to participate in single- and multi-center studies. The Fellow will participate in multiple clinical research projects related to retrospective, prospective, and randomized controlled studies. The Fellow will also participate in basic science research at the Trauma Research Laboratory and the Animal Operating Rooms. The precise balance between clinical and laboratory research will be decided on a case-by-case basis according to the Fellow’s preference and the Divisional needs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLE

The Research Fellow will be assigned to one faculty member of the Division and become actively involved in clinical and laboratory research. The Research Fellow will attend all educational programs of the Division and participate in an observational capacity in clinical activities. Direct contact with patients is not allowed under this program. At the end of the fellowship, the Fellow is expected to have rich knowledge in trauma, emergency surgery, and surgical critical care research, and have completed multiple studies, which can be presented at major surgical meetings and published in major surgical journals.

CRITERIA

Individuals interested in applying for a Research Fellow position must meet the following criteria:

• Medical degree
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written
• Minimum one-year commitment
• Although USMLE scores are not an absolute prerequisite for admission to the Research Fellowship Program applicants who have taken USMLE will be preferred. In particular, for applicants who after the Research Fellowship Program would like to continue with residency in the U.S., high USMLE scores will play a very important role in the selection process.
  

Financial support is possible through grants. The research program of the Division is heavily funded by multiple federal agencies and industry. However, financial support of the Fellow cannot be promised. Evidence of own financial support is desirable. Decisions about financial support are made on case-by-case basis, depending on the availability of funds, nature of research, and performance of the fellow.

The Fellow is expected to be familiar with study design and methodology and simple statistical analysis (e.g. univariate analysis, t-test, chi-square). A higher level of statistical knowledge is desirable and should be emphasized in the application. The Fellow is expected to be familiar with commonly used computer programs (e.g. MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, etc). A higher level of computer knowledge is desirable and should be emphasized in the application.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply for a Research Fellow position, interested individuals should submit:

1) Application, including current photo;
2) Letter of intent describing the candidate’s goals and expectations from the research fellowship; a statement should clarify if the candidate requests full or partial or no financial support and clearly state the intent (or lack of intent) to pursue residency in the U.S. after the completion of the program;
3) Detailed and chronologically organized Curriculum Vitae;
4) Two letters of recommendation from  Professors or Directors at the applicant’s institution in English (from past 12 months)

This material should be mailed to:

Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care
Massachusetts General Hospital
165 Cambridge Street, Suite # 810
Boston, MA 02114
Attention: Karen Osborne

Or e-mailed to: kosborne@partners.org

The applicant will be notified via e-mail within two business days upon receipt of all the requested documentation.

Usually, two to four Research Fellows are hired every year, based on need. Start dates are in January or July. The Division Chief (Dr. George Velmahos) and the Director of Trauma Research (Dr. Hasan Alam) meet twice a year to review all applications, in March and October. At the March meeting, we select candidates for the following January; at the October meeting, we select candidates for the following July. The applicants are contacted approximately one month after these meetings to be informed about the decision on their application. Telephone interviews may be arranged during the selection process.

APPOINTMENT PROCESS

If accepted, the Fellow will receive by mail the “Research Fellow Appointment Package,” which should be promptly completed and returned. Delays on receiving the complete appointment package, may compromise the appointment. Please, note that the appointment and visa process can take three to four months.

Among other forms, the Research Fellow Appointment Package includes:

• Mass General application for initial appointment to the Professional Staff of the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
• Visa application
• Doctoral degree diploma translated to English and notarized (or official letter from institution stating degree obtained)
• Source and evidence of financial support per year that must be equivalent to the most recent NIH NRSA stipend level according to the years of experience

* As part of the appointment process, candidates are required to pass a CORI background check (Criminal Offender Record Information: details convictions, pending cases, non-convictions, and juvenile data).

For more information on the Research Fellowship Program, contact Karen Osborne at kosborne@partners.org.

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