MCIRCC welcomes researchers from the University of Oslo
MCIRCC welcomes researchers from the University of Oslo
On March 31, researchers, professors and clinicians from the University of Michigan welcomed colleagues from the University of Oslo to discuss ongoing research in resuscitation, cardiovascular emergencies and critical care.
Earlier this month, MCIRCC welcomed cardiac arrest researchers from the University of Oslo's OSlo CArdiopulmonary Resuscitation research network (OSCAR) to the University of Michigan. The visiting researchers, alongside counterparts from U-M, presented research in resuscitation, cardiovascular emergencies and critical care.
The OSCAR research network, headed by Kjetil Sunde, MD, is a global leader in cardiac arrest research. Dr. Sunde and his colleagues perform targeted research to identify and strengthen weak links in the chain of care in cardiac arrest; from recognition of cardiac arrest through post-resuscitation care. He and his colleagues presented research on innovative treatment methods for cardiac arrest patients, uses for diagnostic tools and research about medical devices aiding in the resuscitation of cardiac arrest patients.
Similarly, researchers from MCIRCC, and across U-M's Health System, presented research on improving outcomes for in-hospital cardiac arrest, outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the state of Michigan, the big-data platforms pioneered by MCIRCC, and work occuring in the University's ECMO lab.
Each presentation was followed by a lively question and answer session. Researchers from both universities sought to gain a better understanding of their counterparts' capabilities and findings, showing a desire to combine their formidable resources to improve care for cardiac arrest patients.
One theme highlighted was the difference between Norwegian and American culture. Several times throughout the presentations, University of Oslo researchers referenced their bystander CPR rate, which is significantly higher than in the United States. As such, critical care professionals in the United States face the challenge of ensuring the public is informed about how important bystander CPR is, and training as many people as possible. Conversely, Norwegian critical care professionals may find it difficult to gauge what works and what doesn't in educating and informing the public about performing CPR on patients who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Clearly, there is a need for a cultural exchange to establish guidelines and best practices in such a fragile and complex chain of care.
The main priority of the conference was to ensure that it was merely a first step in a fruitful collaboration between the two research institutions. The day after the conference, the Oslo team received tours of just a few of the University of Michigan's cutting-edge laboratories and facilities, and were able to meet in small groups to discuss next steps in collaborations.
Progress in the field of cardiac arrest demands talented researchers and the resources to allow them to find solutions, which is why a collaboration between the Universities of Michigan and Oslo - two of the finest research institutions in the world - is so necessary. The conference paved the way for what will hopefully be a collaboration that improves outcomes for cardiac arrest patients in the future.