Improving Recovery for Burn Survivors

The goal of this work is to improve recovery following major burn injury. The institute for trauma recovery has built a network of premier burn centers to study the outcomes of burn survivors with a emphasis on post-traumatic stress, pain, itch and scar outcomes. Foundational papers from our group have shown that chronic pain and itch following Major Thermal Burn injury is common and significantly impacts all aspects of emotional and physical function. Furthermore, this early work suggests that there is a ethnic difference in pain and itch trajectories. This work has allowed is to explore epidemiologic and molecular mechanisms underlying the transition from acute to chronic pain.

The mechanisms identified in our cohorts have driven the development of a randomized clinical trial designed to prevent chronic pain following burn injury using simple, readily available medications.  This work will hopefully lead to improved preventative  treatment options for survivors of major burn injury.

If you are interested in supporting our work to improve the lives of burn survivors, please consider donating.