The Weil Institute, the UCLA Critical Care Center, and the MCIRCC are four such institutions that focus on integrated approaches to patient care. These institutions are advancing the science of critical care and have been at the forefront of innovative research for years. This article will discuss the Weil Institute, MCIRCC, PRIMER, and the UCLA Critical Care Center. We also describe their goals and their impact on patient care.
Weil Institute
The Weil Institute for Integrative Research in Critical Care is a Michigan Medicine-based institution dedicated to the study of the causes and treatment of critical illness and injury. Its name honors the family of Dr. Weil, who was one of the nation’s foremost innovators in the field of medicine. The Institute’s research will advance patient care in major areas of critical care, including trauma, COVID-19, and cardiac arrest.
With a mission of transforming critical care medicine, the Weil Institute has created a unique formula for success. This formula combines innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry partners to develop groundbreaking solutions that improve the care and quality of life of critically ill patients. The Weil Institute is dedicated to advancing the field of medicine through innovation and interdisciplinary team science. To achieve success, the Institute engages industry partners, donors, and industrial partners in the development of new therapies and technologies.
MCIRCC
The Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care (MCIRCC) is a multidisciplinary institute dedicated to developing innovative technologies for patients in critical care settings. Founded just over four years ago, this research institute has spun out eight companies and licensed 14 products. The team is made up of clinicians, nurses, and basic scientists who collaborate in the design, execution, and data analysis of research projects.
Located on the U-M campus, the M-CIRCC is an integral part of the University of Michigan’s world-class research enterprise. It focuses on integrating basic science and engineering with critical illness and injury research. The results of this research can benefit patients and improve their care. MCIRCC researchers also partner with the Cardiovascular Center Clinical Research Group to accelerate research translation from the laboratory to the battlefield.
PRIMER
The new PRIMER Center for Integrative Research in Clinical Care at the Medical College of Virginia includes two major additions to the university: an ICU facility for large animals that can serve as viable models of human disease and a data science team that develops advanced analytics software for critical care patient beds. These advances can be used both for research and clinical needs. The center also offers funding opportunities to help researchers tackle some of the largest challenges in critical care, and it aims to reward those who are bold enough to develop solutions to them.
The M-CIRCC is unique in that it is broad-based and integrative among all critical care specialties. It also involves strong collaborations with other universities, such as the College of Engineering on the north campus. The MCIRCC also helps researchers streamline the clinical research process, including the development of IRB protocols, patient engagement, data collection, and data analysis. By bringing together these disciplines, the MCIRCC can accelerate research, develop innovative treatments, and improve patient care.
UCLA Critical Care Center
The UCLA Critical Care Center for Integrative Research in Clinical Practice and Education is a multidisciplinary team that consists of multiple backgrounds in the fields of medicine and critical care. Its goal is to create new knowledge about critical illnesses and new treatments for them, and to foster interdisciplinary excellence in patient care, medical education, and research in the field. By focusing on critical care and its integration with other disciplines, UCLA aims to improve patient safety.
The program is unique in its mission to train fellows to become leaders in clinical and academic medicine. Fellows will be trained in both pediatric and adult critical care. The fellows will be trained in both areas and work side by side with senior fellows of both programs. The fellows will have a well-rounded experience as they work alongside senior residents and medical students in the intensive care unit. The program focuses on teaching medical students, while offering a structured experience in comprehensive evaluation and care of critically ill patients. The fellows will also participate in weekend rounding and increase their independence under a critical care attending physician.