Engineering Technologies for Acute Trauma Care

PROJECT SUMMARY Trauma-related injuries, such as from motor vehicle accidents, accidental falls or acts of violence, are the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States, and the leading cause of death for those between 1 and 46 years of age. Damage control resuscitation is initiated by first responders to restore tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery while preventing complications associated with aggressive resuscitation efforts. However, as most interventions for addressing bleeding rely on blood product transfusions, limited treatments are available for use outside the hospital setting. The goal of this proposal is to engineer novel, synthetic therapies for stabilizing trauma victims in the critical “golden hour” after injury. Our main objectives are to develop low volume resuscitants that provide fluid resuscitation while preserving the patient’s coagulation system and immune- modulating polymers that attenuate inflammation and neutralize reactive oxygen species. Successful completion of these aims will lead to new and critically-needed innovations for trauma medicine.