SCC and ACS Fellowship – Resources

Personnel

The TACS research program offers multiple resources. Dr. William Irish PhD is the Vice Chair for Research for the Department of Surgery. Dr. Irish has special interest in health care outcomes research, biostatistical modeling, and large-scale database analysis. In addition to providing oversight for the Research Council, Dr. Irish provides individual guidance for faculty, fellows and residents pertaining to trial methodology, database access, and biostatistical support. In addition the TACS division is fortunate to have a full-time research coordinator. The research coordinator participates in the Research Council and is invaluable in assistance with all aspects of research, including trial budgets, IRB submissions, and data acquisition and analysis.

Data

The TACS division has five full time data analysts who populate and oversee the National Trauma Registry for the American College of Surgeons. The NTRACS database has over 20 years of data and includes thousands of patients. The Department of Surgery recently acquired access to the North Carolina State Emergency Department Database as well as the State Inpatient Data Sample. In Addition, members of the TACS division serve on the NC Committee on Trauma research committee, providing access to statewide trauma registry analyses.

Facilities

Laboratory access is available both in the Brody School of Medicine and the Life Sciences Building. Access to laboratory tests such as ELISA and western blot are available through collaboration with the basic science faculty in the Brody School of Medicine. The Life Sciences facility includes space and equipment for large animal studies.

Funding

Funding is available through multiple sources, including multiple intramural grants from the Department of Surgery and the Brody School of Medicine. For TACS faculty, fellows and residents, funding is available through an intramural research account overseen by the division chief. Travel for presentations at scientific meetings is funded through the Department of Surgery and a Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Foundation.