Novel Blood Products and Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Trauma
Trauma and hemorrhagic shock are the leading causes of mortality. Pre-clinical studies and clinical trials have focused on a balanced resuscitation after injury, with blood products infused in 1:1:1 ratio of plasma:platelets:RBCs. Trauma results in systemic effects due to endotheliopathy of trauma that results in acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and acute kidney injury (AKI). Our laboratory is focused on mitigating these effects of injury by using novel blood products such as Kcentra (four factor concentrate) and dried blood products (platelets (FDPlts) and plasma) in pre-clinical models of hemorrhagic shock and trauma, and traumatic brain injury. Our research is also focused on investigating the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSC derived extracellular vesicles in mitigating the effects of hemorrhagic shock and trauma induced organ dysfunction.
Defining the Endotheliopathy and Epitheliopathy of Trauma
In response to hemorrhagic shock and trauma, the secondary effects that result in multi organ failure are a result of endotheliopathy of trauma (EOT), which includes vascular barrier compromise, systemic inflammation, and dysfunctional coagulation as well as epitheliopathy of trauma (EpOT), that consists of damage to the cells of epithelial origin in multiple organs including, lungs, gut and kidney. Our research focuses on mitigating the effect of EOT and EpOT in multi organ failure after trauma.