Research & Continuing Education External Funding

Independent Medical Education: 

1. Providing comprehensive training on the different types and applications of adjunctive hemostatic surgical products, adhesion prevention products and surgical sealants
2. Educating surgeons on the proper techniques and best practices for using adjunctive hemostatic surgical products to achieve meticulous hemostasis in daily surgical procedures
3. Offering hands-on workshops or simulation training to enhance surgeons' skills in utilizing adjunctive hemostatic surgical products, adhesion prevention products and surgical sealants
4. Providing in-depth training on the mechanism of action and benefits of surgical adhesion prevention products
5. Educating surgeons on the appropriate selection and application of adhesion prevention surgical products in everyday surgery
6. Addressing any challenges or barriers to the effective use of adhesion prevention surgical products

Investigator Initiated Research:

1. Focus is on all products within Advanced Surgery that can address challenges faced during surgical procedures; specifically, hepatic, pancreatic, general surgery, lung, bariatric, cardiovascular, microvascular, colorectal, neurologic and spine related procedures. We seek to assess relationships among, or between, intervention, clinical outcome and the health-economic value for these procedures.
2. In addition, we seek studies exploring the clinical utility of the Validated Intraoperative Bleeding (VIBe) Scale as a tool to enhance operating room (OR) team communication and in selecting the correct hemostatic product for the appropriate bleed, as well as strategies to evaluate and mitigate post-operative adhesions.
3. It is desirable that concept proposals are retrospective chart reviews and/or registries with small sample size, single center studies, and focusing on disease areas of importance to Baxter's Advanced Surgery Global Business Unit. Randomized controlled trials will also be considered based on the proposal’s individual merits.

Medication Delivery

Independent Medical Education: Coming soon for 2024!

Investigator Initiated Research:

1. Contribute to scientific knowledge in topics of monitoring, drug delivery, infusion therapy, IV workflow management, fluid management, or optimizing patient outcome
2. Continue to expand uses for monitoring, drug delivery, infusion therapy, fluid management and new or novel uses of Baxter products and technologies
3. Continue to explore new patient populations that will benefit from monitoring, improved medication delivery, fluid management, IV medication preparation from the use of Baxter technologies.
4. Continue to collect the safety and performance data of Baxter's on market products
5. Infusion Data Integration

Clinical Nutrition, Pharmacy Tools and Compounding:

Independent Medical Education: Coming soon for 2024!

Investigator Initiated Research: 

1. Clinical, operational, or health economic outcomes associated with the use of Baxter multi-chamber bag (Olimel/Clinimix/Numeta) protocols in homogenous adult or pediatric patient populations (e.g. intensive care, surgical, homecare) when compared to compounded individualized parenteral nutrition solutions. Preference will be given to proposals where nutritional targets are guided by indirect calorimetry with QNRG+ (where applicable).
2. Clinical or health economic outcomes associated with use of Clinoleic/Clinolipid in homogenous pediatric or adult patient populations, e.g. intensive care, surgical, homecare (data utilizing compounded formulations will be considered from countries without a 2CB/3CB portfolio).
3. Outcomes related to safety, efficiency, and resource utilization, associated with implementation and usage of Baxter’s pharmacy tool (Exactamix PRO/Abacus/DoseEdge/DoseEdge TPN).

Acute Therapies

Investigator Initiated Research:

1. CRRT
   • Clinical and health economic impact of CRRT in specific AKI populations (major surgery, CSA-AKI, multiple organ dysfunction)
   • Patient outcome studies of CRRT use in specific scenarios:
     • Control of fluid overload
     • AKI patients with hemodynamic instability 
     • AKI patients with a high risk of osmolar/electrolyte shifts
   • Fluid and/or hemodynamic management during CRRT
   • Clinical impact of prolonging filter life and associated patient outcomes
     • Safety and efficacy of RCA protocols during CRRT with PrisMax
   • Digital Health
     • Predictive, digital tools and CDS to guide CRRT workflow (from initiation to weaning)
     • Clinical and health economic impact of CRRT digital dashboards and quality indicators
2. Blood Purication
   • Comparative and single-arm studies on clinical outcomes of blood purification with Oxiris 
   • Studies of the biological, physiological, and clinical effects of Oxiris   
   • Preliminary studies on the role of biological markers for timing and stratification of Oxiris treatment 
   • Studies connecting endotoxin activity assay (EAA) to blood purification with Oxiris 
   • Single-arm and comparative studies on Oxiris in use with ECLS procedures or cardiopulmonary bypass to potentially mitigate the detrimental effects by hyper-inflammatory reactions
   • Studies to evaluate the economic cost/benefit aspects of blood purification
3. ECCO₂R/ PrismaLung+
   • Comparative and single-arm studies on the safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of ECCO₂R to enable protective ventilation in patients with mild to moderate ARDS and other forms of lung failure
   • Single-arm and comparative studies to assess short and long-term outcomes of ECCO₂R in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD 
   • Studies on stratification of patient populations who have the best potential to benefit from ECCO₂R (development of predictive variables for ECCO₂R)
   • Studies on heparin anticoagulation and its optimization during ECCO₂R treatment 
   • Impact of catheter characteristics on circuit performance
   • Research on development of quality indicators for ECCO₂R treatment
   • Preliminary studies on ECCO₂R use and its potential impact on pulmonary/renal crosstalk and inflammatory pathways  
4. Biomarker for OST 
5. Based on the variance of phenotypes in complex syndromes such as sepsis, studies investigating the role of biological markers for stratification of patient populations undergoing blood purification 
6. Preliminary studies identifying biological markers to predict outcomes of blood purification
7. Research on biological or other variables for stratification, monitoring and predicting outcomes with ECCO₂R
8. Impact of racial disparities in AKI, sepsis, ARDS, and other syndromes on ICU treatment and outcomes.

Independent Medical Education:

1. Acute kidney Injury: Disease, diagnosis, and management
2. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT): Prescription and practices
3. CRRT in the management of specific AKI scenarios (e.g., fluid overload, hemodynamic instability, CSA-AKI, post-operative AKI, multiple organ dysfunction)
4. Regional citrate anticoagulation for CRRT
5. CRRT quality improvement programs and therapy adoption
6. Application and outcome of blood purification in different patient populations
7. Biological, physiological, and clinical effects of blood purification technology
8. Role of blood purification in cardiac surgery
9. Utilization of different biomarkers to guide and monitor blood purification. 
10. Application of ECCO₂R different forms of lung failure, including mild to moderate ARDS
11. Safety and efficacy of ECCO₂R
12. Impact of different technologies on outcome of ECCO₂R
13. Variables for patient stratification of ECCO₂R
14. ECCO₂R quality improvement

Chronic Renal Therapies

Investigator Initiated Research:

1. Augment the knowledge on Baxter Renal Care PD therapy by supporting high-quality clinical and health-economic research on
   • Access to PD therapy, inclusive of solutions to barriers to access and drivers of therapy selection/uptake
   • The utility of digital health technologies in delivering effective PD therapy, inclusive of remote patient monitoring and related clinical workflows;
   • Clinical outcomes in PD patients, particularly on evidence regarding healthcare resource utilization and time on therapy.
2. Increase the depth of evidence relating to HDx therapy by supporting high-quality clinical and health-economic research by
   • Examining outcomes in large real world data sets
   • Studies focused directly on pathophysiological mechanisms leading to the benefits of HDx therapy
3. Achieve high-quality communications on the clinical value of Baxter Renal Care therapies through congress abstracts and articles in peer-reviewed journals.
4. Understanding CKD progression and management as a means to optimize therapy selection and onboarding.

Independent Medical Education:

1. Improving outcomes in PD therapy - focus on modality education, optimal start, PD catheter insertion and/or PD prescribing, inclusive of best practices around implementation into clinical workflow
2. Personalising HD therapy - focus on innovative dialysis membranes, patient reported outcomes and/or long-term cardiovascular risk, inclusive of best practices around implementation into clinical workflow

Investigator Initiated Research:

1. Desflurane
   • Anesthesia strategy using fast-acting agents including Desflurane to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications and incremental cost. Studies will help to determine if a fast-acting anesthesia strategy may reduce postoperative complications and/or result in health economic benefits. 
   • Outcomes research to show benefits of enhanced anesthesia protocols (including Desflurane) is encouraged.
2. Injectable IV medications 
   • Studies to demonstrate the impact of using sterile premixed pharmaceuticals vs. manual compounding on staff safety, patient safety, and/or medication errors, and for pharmacy and/or nursing operational efficiency and workflows. 
   • Outcomes research to show the benefits of ready-to-use and/or ready-to-administer IV formulations is encouraged. 
3. CONTRAfluran gas capture system 
   • Studies related with the clinical use of CONTRAfluran (i.e. reduction of gas released to environment, in-use percentage of gas recapture, ease of use, extension of its use in other settings).  
   • Impact of CONTRAfluran on occupational exposure to volatile anesthetics.
   • Potential health economic benefits when using CONTRAfluran.
   • CONTRAfluran gas capture technology clinical data to show benefits and safety in the clinical setting is encouraged.

Care Communications, Collaboration & Connectivity

Independent Medical Education: Coming soon for 2024!

Investigator Initiated Research:

1. Communication & Collaboration
   • Studies exploring the effects of communication & collaboration devices on nursing efficiency and workload.
   • Studies on impact of communication systems and devices on patient falls.
   • Studies investigating ways to incorporate near real time data and analytics into improved surveillance and clinical outcomes.
2. Connected Care
   • Studies exploring the impact of multiple connected devices on patient safety, quality, and/or economic indicators.
   • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Studies exploring maximizing the effectiveness of the nursing workforce through connected devices.
   • Studies exploring impact of mobile communication devices and alert/alarm management on throughput and patient outcomes.
   • Explore the impact of staff and/or asset locating alone or in combination with other Baxter products to improve workflow efficiency and safety.

Frontline Care

Independent Medical Education: Coming soon for 2024!

Investigator Initiated Research:

1. Cardiology
   • Impact of Carnation Ambulatory Monitor use on time to diagnosis vs. alternative modalities or products (e.g. Holter, other LT-ECG devices, mobile cardiac telemetry)
   • Impact of CAM use on time to treatment vs. alternative modalities or products (e.g. Holter, other LT-ECG devices, mobile cardiac telemetry)
   • Impact of CAM use on hospital admissions / readmissions / physician visits / ablations / re-ablations vs. alternative modalities or products (e.g. Holter, other LT-ECG devices, mobile cardiac telemetry)
   • Impact of CAM use on cardiology office workflow burden (e.g. time required by office staff) vs. alternative modalities or products (e.g. Holter, other LT-ECG devices, mobile cardiac telemetry)
2. Patient Monitoring
   • Monitors used on pregnant and pre-eclamptic patients
     • Early warning scores (EWS) and deterioration monitoring (i.e. vital sign Trending, AI, Sepsis, RRp)
3. Physical Exam & Diagnostics
   • MacroView Plus Otoscope & PanOptic Plus Ophthalmoscope: 
     • Use of smarter tools in physical exam to support: more accurate referrals and/or earlier diagnosis and treatment. 
     • Studies evaluating clinical outcomes – accuracy of diagnosis (referral / diagnosis areas of focus from PCP to Specialist) 
     • Studies evaluating for an improvement in the ability to visualize (optic nerve, tympanic membrane) 
     • Studies evaluating practice efficiency (exam time/provider experience) 
     • Studies evaluating patient satisfaction
     • Studies evaluating training/educate medical students or residents with the new devices (provider confidence, comprehension, learning speed)
   • Blood Pressure 
     • Clinical outcomes of BP averaging on the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension
     • Clinical outcomes of measuring blood pressure in children (< 3yrs)
     • Hearing Screening 
     • Studies evaluating hearing loss attributed to dementia
     • Studies evaluating hearing screening on patients at risk for cognitive impairment
4. Respiratory Health
   • Volara
     • ICU length of stay, time on ventilator
     • Use of Volara in Acute Care patients (e.g., COPD admissions, post-op) 
     • Use of Volara in Home Care patients
   • Life2000
     • Life2000 performance compared to other types of ventilation [bi-level/NIV] (e.g.., patient activity). Information showing patient type and outcomes associated with appropriate patient selection.
     • Use of Life 2000 in pulmonary rehab (e.g. evaluation of the impact on walk distance or other indicators of increased exercise capacity (e.g., endurance)
   • Vest
     • Protocols/settings used for various indications (e.g., neuro, bronchiectasis) 
     • Research around optimizing airway clearance device use, when to step up to High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation in patients (i.e., bronchiectasis)
   • Synclara
     • Effectiveness of Synclara system in patients with neuromuscular disease (sputum production / Vital capacity)
5. Vision Screening & Diagnostics
   • Studies investigating the ability to either diagnose or monitor systemic or ocular disease through retinal imaging
   • Prospective or retrospective studies demonstrating the impact of teleretinal program
   • Studies comparing instrument-based vision screeners
   • Studies demonstrating the impact of instrument based pediatric vision screening in community or school settings
   • Studies comparing handheld fundus cameras to other handheld cameras and/or desktop fundus photography

Patient Support Systems

Independent Medical Education: Coming soon for 2024!

Investigator Initiated Research:

1. Contact-Free Continuous Monitoring (CFCM)
   • Comparative study: Early identification of deterioration utilizing the CFCM technology vs no identification.
   • Studies to evaluate how CFCM could impact unnecessary telemetry orders. 
   • Retrospective studies examining the impact of CFCM on early identification of critical respiratory and heart rates of patients that are on narcotics. 
2. Low Bed Height
   • Retrospective study to determine if bed height is a factor in patent and/or care giver injury.
   • Study the incidences and seriousness of fall related complications with bed position in Low-Low position compared to a normal Low bed setting.
3. Pulmonary Therapy 
   • Prospective clinical trial to determine the effects of continuous lateral rotation (CLRT) and in bed percussion and vibration (P&V) technology.
   • Comparative study: continuous lateral rotation (CLRT) and in bed percussion and vibration technology (P&V) vs no continuous lateral rotation (CLRT) and in bed percussion and vibration (P&V) technology.
4. Early Mobilization 
   • Studies to determine if utilizing the Mobility STEP protocol improves early mobility in the ICU patient population.
5. Alternating Low Pressure
   • Comparative study to compare the use of ALP in the minimal turn patient i.e. immobile, non-compliant, and critical patient vs continuous low pressure.
6. Connectivity
   • Time in motion study to determine if time is saved by utilizing available technology, measure the effects of connectivity on care team workload.
   • Observational Study to determine: How the connectivity may guide clinical decisions in the ICU environment (e.g., monitoring of the weight/daily fluid balance).

Global Surgical Solutions

Independent Medical Education: Coming soon for 2024!

Investigator Initiated Research:

1. ​​​​​​​Surgical Patient Warming:
   • Baxter warming system
     • Comparative and single-arm studies on clinical outcome of maintaining normothermia with Baxter integrated warming system.
     • Comparative study on the outcome maintaining normothermia comparing forced air warming vs. Baxter integrated warming system.
     • Studies to evaluate economical cost / benefit aspects of Baxter integrated warming system.
2. Surgical Connectivity Helion
   • Comparative study: Transfer of the surgical patient to the ICU with no connectivity vs with two-way face time connectivity.
   • Qualitative study to determine perception: ease of use.
3. TS 7000dv
   • Comparison study to measure time it takes to doc and position the patient using the TS 7000dv vs. standard operating room table.
4. Helux Pro surgical light
   • Time in motion study to determine the time spent on repositioning light heads.
5. Surgical Table
   • Pre/post comparison study to measure incidence of perioperative pressure injury after implementation of the Baxter surgical table.
6. Allen Spine table
   • Comparison study H-bracket vs. no H-bracket retrospective patient injury incidence.