Training in Trauma and Sepsis Research

Trauma and sepsis are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in humans. The Pitt Trauma Research Training Program (Pitt TRTP) is focused on the training of physician- scientists and a few full-time PhDs in trauma, sepsis, and related pathobiological process including wound repair and tissue engineering. Progress in complex clinical fields such as trauma and sepsis requires investigative teams collectively possessing skills in diverse areas of research. These specialized research areas span the rapidly advancing disciplines within clinical and basic research and thus, require scientists capable of managing and evaluating high dimensional data sets, other scientists facile skilled in reverse translating clinical observations into relevant preclinical models (both small and large animals), and finally, investigators well-versed in the design and execution of clinical trials and assessing optimal strategies to improve outcomes in acutely ill trauma/surgical patients. To address these inter- and multidisciplinary needs, we have organized the Pitt TRTP around two broad tracks: 1) the Clinical Research Track; and 2) the Basic Research Track. Track Oversight Committees (TOC) with demonstrated expertise oversee each track, which in turn consists of expert faculty fully engaged with the program. These investigators have worked together for many years in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams. Customized training plans are developed for each trainee and approved by the TOCs. The Pitt TRTP leverages extensive local resources at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, including robust clinical and research programs in trauma, acute care surgery, Surgical Critical Care, and sepsis research; world-class clinical programs (from which the patient data and biobanks are procured), including three Level Trauma Centers which admit over 8,000 trauma and 4000 acute care surgery patients per year as well as carrying out multiple clinical trials in the setting of trauma and sepsis; collaborating departments with international expertise in computational and systems biology along with immunology; and extensive core facilities which support current- and next-generation “omics” research.