Bulger Research Group

Mission

Dr. Bulger’s research group is focused on the following goals:

Identifying and testing new therapeutic approaches to the management of severe injury and critical illness.
Optimizing prehospital care after injury and defining the optimal field triage strategy for injured patients by EMS.
Identifying and testing new therapeutic approaches to the management of necrotizing soft tissue infections
Working with multiple professional organizations to develop and implement a National Trauma Research action plan for the US

Collaborators

Shahram Aarabi, MD, MPH Assistant Professor UCSF East Bay, Department of Surgery
Sam Arbabi, MD, MPH, Professor, UW Department of Surgery
Scott Brakenridge, MD Associate Professor, UW Department of Surgery
Joe Cuschieri, MD, Professor, University of California San Francisco
Ashley Emery, PhD, Professor, UW Mechanical Engineering
Joel Gross, MD, Professor, UW Department of Radiology
Laura Hennesey, RN, Research Nurse Supervisor, UW Department of Surgery
Sam Mandell, MD, Associate Professor,University of Texas: Southwestern
Ronald V, Maier, MD, Professor, UW Department of Surgery
Rebecca Maine, Assistant Professor, UW Department of Surgery
Deepika Nehra, MD Assistant Professor, UW Department of Surgery
Craig Newgard, MD, MPH, Professor, Oregon Health and Sciences University
Katie O’Connell, MD Assistant Professor, UW Department of Surgery
Michelle Price, PhD Executive Director, Coalition for National Trauma Research
Fred Rivara, MD Professor, UW Department of Pediatrics
Bryce Robinson, MD, Professor, UW Department of Surgery
Barclay Stewart, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor UW Department of Surgery
Ronald M. Stewart, MD, Professor & Chair, Department of Surgery, UT Health San Antonio
Nathen White, MD, Associate Professor, UW Department of Emergency Medicine
Doug Zatzick, MD Professor, UW Department of Psychiatry

Funding

Current Funded Projects

A Deployment Focused Pragmatic Trial of Optimal Stepped Care Intervention Targeting PTSD and Comorbiditiy for Acutely Hospitalized Injury Survivors in US Trauma Care Systems
Co PI: Bulger EM and Zatzick DF 9/1/22-6/30/27 $790,177
The Value of Emergency Care For Injured Older Adults
NIH AHRQ (Newgard) (Bulger, Site PI)
Multicenter Phase 3 trial of a novel drug for patients with Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections, AtoxBio Ltd (PI: Bulger) 2015-present (Bulger, site PI and national PI)
Therapeutic Limb Cooling to Prevent Amputation in prolonged Damage Control Resuscitation, Department of Defense DM160405 PI: Bulger, EM
Development of a National Trauma Research Action Plan
Department of Defense: Co PIs: Bulger EM, Price M

Significant Accomplishments

Bulger is the PI for a Phase 3 multicenter clinical trial of a novel drug therapy for Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection which involved over 60 clinical sites in the US and Europe. The enrollment for this trial has been completed and results should be available soon. The Phase 2 study for this drug was the first randomized controlled trial in this patient population and suggested a good safety profile for the drug and demonstrated a reduction in the development of organ failure.
Bulger has led several clinical trials in collaboration with the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium to optimize the prehospital and early hospital resuscitation and management of patients with hemorrhagic shock and/or severe traumatic brain injury.
Bulger served as the PI for the Seattle site of the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network for 10 years which resulted in several multidisciplinary projects defining mechanism of injury in motor vehicle crashes. Two of these studies which were focused on spinal injuries in rollover collisions have contributed to new standards to increase the roof strength in passenger vehicles beginning in 2016.
Bulger is leading a national effort supported by the Department of Defense to develop a National Trauma Research Action Plan which will provide a road map for the future of trauma research and a platform to advocate for increased funding and coordination of trauma research at the federal level.
Bulger has worked closely with Dr. Craig Newgard from Oregon Health Sciences University on a series of investigations evaluating the CDC decision scheme for EMS triage including a special focus on geriatric patients. These data will support a national update to the triage tool in 2020.
Bulger is collaborating with Dr. Fred Rivara’s research group at the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center and with investigators from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma to develop public health interventions to support Firearm Injury Prevention.

Significant Publications

More Information

Eileen M. Bulger, MD, FACS