Cincinnati Research In Trauma

Mission – To investigate the impacts of polytrauma and critical illness on patient outcomes by determining the physiologic, hematologic, and inflammatory effects of resuscitation, transportation, and transfusion after traumatic injury utilizing basic, translational, and clinical research platforms.

Care of the wounded warrior remains a significant focus of CRIT, which is fully integrated with the University of Cincinnati Institute for Military Medicine.

The Team

The trauma team at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center has a long and distinguished history of basic science, translational, and clinical research.  Our multidisciplinary basic science and teams investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which insults such as trauma and infection can lead to organ dysfunction and death.  Our translational and clinical research teams are focused on improving resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and patient care during transport.  Our work has resulted in publications as well as multiple current federally funded research projects.

Laboratory Facilities

The Cincinnati Research in Trauma (CRIT) group’s laboratories are located in the Surgical Research Unit of the University of Cincinnati and consist of nearly 8,000 square feet of open laboratory space.  Laboratory equipment includes centrifuges, gel electrophoresis equipment, UV/vis spectrophotometer, 3 refrigerated microcentrifuges, cell culture facilities with laminar flow hoods, cell culture incubators, water baths, inverted and upright microscopes, 4°C refrigerators, -20°C and -80°C freezers, 96-well plate washer, 96-well plate reader, lyophylizer, Beckman ultracentrifuges, ELISA plate reader, spectrophotometer, densitometer, and flow cytometry.  The laboratory space includes sophisticated research equipment such as rotational thromboelastometry, thromboelastography, thrombin activation analysis, platelet function analysis, and flow chambers.  Additional translational work takes place in 800 feet of customized laboratory space that includes ventilator equipment, environmental chambers, and test lungs.  Additional core facilities, including flow cytometry, proteomics, and microscopy cores, are located within the same building as the Surgical Research Unit. 

Animal Facilities

The University of Cincinnati Laboratory Animal Medical Services maintains and manages AAALAC approved animal facilities totaling approximately 60,000 square feet. Programs of animal husbandry, preventive medicine, and pre- and post-surgical care have been developed to assure adequate veterinary care is provided at all times.  Complete veterinary, diagnostic, and clinical support services are available.  An animal operating room to perform hemorrhage and resuscitation experiments is located within the Surgical Research Unit and an operating room for large animal experiments is located in the Center for Surgical Innovation.  These facilities include instruments, veterinary technician support, and anesthesia and monitoring devices as well as a hypobaric chamber capable of simulating altitudes as high as 100,000 feet.

Biostatistical Support

Trauma research efforts are supported by a full-time biostatistician who assists statistical analysis in the pre-study, grant preparation, statistical analysis, and manuscript phases.  In addition, as needed, additional robust statistical support is available through the University of Cincinnati’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST).

Support for Basic and Translational Scientists

The group has an excellent track record of mentoring the next generation of basic and translational scientists.  Support is provided in the form of startup funding, assigned mentors, scholarly oversight committees, and assistance with grant applications.  This approach has led to successful attainment of intramural and extramural funding support, including the CCTST, surgical societies, the DOD, and the NIH.

Prior trainees in CRIT include: