Priorities for research in trauma care: creating a bucket list

Abstract

Trauma represents a major global health burden, yet receives disproportionally less funding compared to other medical conditions. One report found that injury research constituted only 6% of all research grants provided by major funders. Alas, if only there was an endless funding resource for trauma and critical care research. Indeed, only those who have tried to get past the high doors of the federal and institutional research funding programmes (where these even exist) can tell of the intricacies involved, the frustration and pain of rejections, the hard work and relentless hours of tedious reporting to reach an even remotely slim chance for a well-funded research programme on a perceived valuable theme and a well-designed project. Clearly, there is a need to prioritize. The critical questions are what to investigate, what to fund and, what are the clinical implications and for whom? And, hence, how to strengthen the trauma chain of survival?