The overarching objective of this K24 proposal is to leverage the protected research time and operating budget afforded by the K24 award to ensure intensive mentorship of promising surgeon-scientists, sustain the ongoing mentorship of surgeons within my trials network, and ensure the completion of a critical pilot study that is poised to lead to my next large clinical trial. In my position at the University, I have the opportunity to develop the research careers of medical students, residents, clinical fellows, and graduate studies. In addition, I am frequently approached by early career surgeons at outside institutions that aim elevate their role in clinical research. As such, I have developed a graduated mentorship commitment model to focus the majority of my time on 1-2 mentees per year that have expressed an interest in becoming a surgeon-scientist. These mentees receive an immersed patient outcome research experience with a heavy focus on mentored exposure to all aspects of clinical trials. My mentees benefit from substantive data available at the high-volume of the trauma center where I practice clinically and through opportunities emanating from my two main funded research programs: the PREP-IT skin antiseptic clinical trials and the SPY laser assisted angiography use for minimizing the risk of wound complications associated with periarticular tibia fractures. In congruence with these two research programs, I will accomplish four mentorship objectives. Specifically, mentees will be immersed in: 1) managing the daily activities of the SPY LA-ICGA proof-of-concept trial; 2) using the SPY proof-of-concept pilot data to develop and plan a definitive multicenter trial and related R01 application for funding; 3) performing secondary data analyses of existing trial data to generate new clinical trial ideas; and, 4) developing their original research ideas to be continued in their independent research careers. Over the duration of the award, I will concurrently develop my abilities as a surgeon-scientist and mentor. These career development objectives include the following: 1) increase my expertise and understanding of advanced research methods and analyses techniques; 2) increase my leadership and teaching skills as a career development mentor for prospective surgeon-scientists; and, 3) increase my understanding and exposure to other orthopaedic applications of LA- ICGA and related imaging modalities that have the potential to improve our ability to safely perform fracture fixation in traumatized soft-tissues.
The overarching objective of this K24 proposal is to leverage the protected research time and operating budget afforded by the K24 award to ensure intensive mentorship of promising surgeon-scientists, sustain the ongoing mentorship of surgeons within my trials network, and ensure the completion of a critical pilot study that is poised to lead to my next large clinical trial. I am the principal investigator of two main research programs: the PREP-IT skin antiseptic clinical trials and the SPY laser assisted angiography use for minimizing the risk of wound complications associated with periarticular tibia fractures. Both funded-programs will be used to achieve my mentorship objectives for each emerging surgeon-scientist.
