California Facilities Lead National Research Efforts To Advance Care
The UC-Davis Regional Burn Center has received a $5 million grant from the Department of Defense to collaborate with facilities nationwide in advancing burn research, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The Burns Outcomes Research Infrastructure Project includes three studies that will:
- Examine how to reduce the need for multiple blood transfusions for burn patients in critical care;
- Study best practices for rehabilitating burn survivors, both physically and emotionally; and
- Identify obstacles burn survivors encounter during the recovery process.
Tina Palmieri, director of the burn center, said the research initiative hopes to further advance treatment for burn survivors, a field that continues to evolve.
The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Brooke Army Hospital in Houston also will participate in the project, and the American Burn Association will help coordinate the initiative (Griffith, Sacramento Bee, 11/29).
Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland will lead a multi-state effort to study the epidemiology, prevention, management and outcomes of cardiovascular diseases, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
The network consists of researchers at 14 U.S. not-for-profit health plans with "integrated research divisions," according to the Business Times. Data for the research will be provided by the health plans.
Kaiser's Oakland division will serve as lead investigator, coordinate the five-year project and receive about one-third of the $7.5 million in funding, according to a spokesperson. Funding is provided by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Researchers will conduct three projects to investigate:
- Recognition, treatment and control of hypertension;
- Use of the blood thinner Warfarin for atrial fibrillation and blood clots; and
- Use and outcomes of implantable cardiac defibrillators.
Officials said the research will track patients' care, medications, hospitalizations and other statistics over a long period of time with the goal of improving care and outcomes (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 11/28). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.