Burn State of the Science Research Conference Concluding Remarks

Abstract

The Burn State of the Science Research Conference was a success on multiple levels. First, the conference achieved its stated purpose: the identification and prioritization of burn research goals for the next decade and the delineation of the resources needed to achieve those goals. Issues ranging from acute burn care through the rehabilitative period were addressed in a single forum and brought together in this publication. Several common themes emerged during the discussions. Although much progress has been made in burn management, much remains to be learned, and several tenets of research are missing. Universal definitions and grading systems that can be applied for both clinical and basic science research are lacking. Endpoints of care, such as resuscitation, are still not clear. Consensus in these areas is vital to conducting meaningful research, but even that is not enough. Once consensus is achieved, the conclusions need to be validated via basic science and pilot studies. Ultimately, multicenter randomized trials will be necessary to define the “best” burn care. Funding for research in general is dissipating, yet adequate funding for burn research is sorely needed, and burn researchers will need to be creative in pursuing funding sources.