Current Projects in Clinical Research
The clinical research program of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Wake Forest University is a thriving endeavor growing with each day of activity. A research program requires a major institutional and departmental commitment to provide researchers with the support and infrastructure required to produce high quality results. Fortunately over the past several decades such a research program has been carefully assembled here within the Department of Emergency Medicine at Wake Forest.
At the institutional level, Wake Forest University School of Medicine provides outstanding research support from project inception through publication. This supportive environment has placed the institution in the top third in NIH funding and fourth in the Southeast region in revenues from its licensed intellectual property. Institutional highlights include an extremely supportive Office of Research, an electronic Institutional Review Board submission process, availability of biostatistics and research design support through the design and analysis unit, a searchable database of ongoing research within the institution to facilitate cross-departmental collaboration, and a congenial productive environment.
Within the Department of Emergency Medicine, our research faculty members devote their academic time to a broad array of clinical research. These core researchers collaborate with other faculty, residents, and students to plan and implement high quality investigations. Investigations are supported by the research staff (research nurses and study coordinators) who work in parallel with the investigators and are instrumental in conducting the research and data collection.
Successful research requires collaboration and teamwork. Our clinical research program has developed an extensive collaboration network both within Wake Forest and across other medical centers in the US. Recently, the Department of Emergency Medicine teamed with the Translational Science Institute at Wake Forest to develop the Acute Care Research Unit. This research unit will increase translational science opportunities within the institution and promote multi-disciplinary collaboration.
Current areas of focus
The research emphasis of our department has focused on several areas that are fundamental to the practice of emergency medicine. Current areas of focus and examples of ongoing or recently completed research are listed below.
Cardiovascular & pulmonary disorders
Severe hypertension therapeutic trials
Heart failure therapeutic trials
Best diagnostic strategies for patients with chest pain (evaluations of cardiac MRI and coronary CT angiography)
Economic analyses of cardiac care
Pulmonary Embolism diagnostic device trial
Diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome
Diagnostic Imaging
Clinical predators of acute spinal cord pathology in non-trauma patients
Trauma & critical care
Radiation exposure during trauma evaluations
Spine fracture imaging
Intracerebral pressure increases during intubation
Environmental hypothermia rewarming strategies
Continuous noninvasive tissue perfusion monitoring for shock
Public Health
Impact of alcohol containing “energy” drinks
Alcohol intervention among trauma patients
Impact of facilitated hypertension referral programs
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Influenza surveillance
RSV diagnostic investigations
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus surveillance
Emergency Medical Services / Prehospital Care
Less lethal weapon injury epidemiology
Taser weapon cardiac effects
Decontamination strategies for tear gas and pepper spray exposure
Effectiveness of commercially available tourniquets
Education research
Link to education group page
Primary research faculty and publications (click on each name to link to publication list)
James Hoekstra, MD
David Cline, MD
William Bozeman, MD
Chadwick Miller, MD
James “Tripp” Winslow, MD, MPH
Cedric Lefevbre, MD
Milan Nadkarni, MD
Mary Claire O’Brien, MD
Resident Scholarly Activity
Our residency program requires all residents to complete a Scholarly Activity Project. Numerous opportunities exist for residents to collaborate with faculty on research, administrative, or education projects. Program applicants who come to residency with an interest in continuing research initiated prior to residency, or those candidates hoping to pursue a research project as a primary investigator should contact our Resident Research Director, David M. Cline, M.D., so that their endeavors might be facilitated prior to starting residency.