Trauma Research Laboratory

Overview

The Trauma Research Laboratory, led by Dr. Haytham Kaafarani, was founded in 2005. The laboratory conducts 200 large animal and 400 small animal experiments per year. All the projects are approved by the Subcommittee on Research Animal Care (SRAC), ensuring compliance with medical ethics. Funding for projects is provided through competitive grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Office of Naval Research, the Department of Defense, the Center for Integration of Medicine with Innovative Technology (CIMIT) and other sources.

The basic science research team includes:

• PhDs
• Post-doctoral fellows
• Research fellows
• Students
• Surgeon scientists
• Technicians
• Veterinarians

The laboratory is a state-of-the art facility that is capable of performing the full spectrum of research from large animal survival experiments to the sub-cellular mechanistic studies.

The Mass General Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care (TESSCC) believes that translational research should target the early phase of injury. Although great strides have been made in treating the late consequences of trauma (sepsis, ARDS, organ failures), there is still relative lack of effective therapies and interventions at the prehospital and early in-hospital phase. At Mass General, our research targets critical aspects of early trauma care, focusing on clearly defined and achievable research goals. We have assembled a team of individuals who are experts in this field and are capable of building upon the previous achievements. The major areas of basic research include:

• Advancements in treatment of central nervous system injuries
• Development and testing of shelf-stable blood products for pre-hospital use
• Development and validation of strategies for battlefield medicine
• Development of better methods for early control of bleeding
• Development of new devices and tools
• Identification of biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of shock
• Improved resuscitation strategies, including pharmacological interventions to boost the intrinsic survival mechanisms
• Innovative treatments for septic shock
• Novel strategies for tissue preservation during and after severe shock
• Transfer of new findings rapidly into clinical practice through clinical trials

TESSCC is uniquely qualified to advance the care of the severely injured. Our team members bring together expertise in basic science research, execution of clinical trials, and delivery of excellent clinical care. Mass General and Harvard Medical School provides access to a research infrastructure, subject matter experts, and a patient population that is unique in the world.

Meet the team leading the research at the Trauma Research Laboratory, which targets critical aspects of early trauma care and focuses on clearly defined high-impact goals.

Our Team

Meet the team leading the research at the Trauma Research Laboratory, which targets critical aspects of early trauma care and focuses on clearly defined high-impact goals.

Haytham Kaafarani, MD, MPH
Director, Trauma & Emergency Surgery Research
Director of Patient Safety & Quality, Trauma & Emergency Surgery
Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Director, Center for Outcomes & Patient Safety in Surgery (COMPASS)
Director, Wound Center

Michael Duggan, DVM