European Academy of Medical Sciences Addresses the Crisis in Acute Care Research Monday 22nd March 2021 The European Academy of Medical Sciences (EAM) is launching a major initiative to tackle the growing crisis in acute care research, a field critical to improving patient outcomes in emergency and intensive care settings. Acute care encompasses the treatment of patients with severe, often life-threatening conditions that require immediate and specialized intervention, yet the field faces significant challenges that hinder progress and innovation. The Urgency of the Crisis Acute care research is vital for advancing our understanding and treatment of conditions such as sepsis, trauma, heart attacks, and stroke—ailments that demand rapid and effective responses. However, despite its importance, acute care research is underfunded and underrepresented in the broader medical research landscape. This neglect has led to a lack of robust evidence to guide clinical decisions, contributing to variability in care and outcomes. The current crisis is compounded by the increasing complexity of patient needs, the rising incidence of acute conditions due to aging populations, and the global burden of pandemics and other health emergencies. These factors underscore the urgent need for coordinated research efforts to develop new treatments, optimize existing therapies, and improve care delivery in acute settings. EAM’s Strategic Response In response to this pressing need, EAM is spearheading a comprehensive initiative aimed at revitalizing acute care research across Europe and beyond. The initiative will focus on three primary areas: enhancing research capacity, fostering collaboration, and translating findings into practice. Enhancing Research Capacity: EAM is committed to building the necessary infrastructure to support high-quality acute care research. This includes securing funding for large-scale studies, developing new research methodologies tailored to the acute care environment, and investing in the next generation of researchers through targeted training programs. Fostering Collaboration: Recognizing that the challenges in acute care require a multidisciplinary approach, EAM will facilitate collaboration among clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. By bringing together expertise from diverse fields such as emergency medicine, critical care, surgery, and public health, EAM aims to create a cohesive research agenda that addresses the most critical gaps in knowledge. Translating Research into Practice: A key goal of the initiative is to ensure that research findings are rapidly and effectively integrated into clinical practice. EAM will work with healthcare providers and professional organizations to develop guidelines, protocols, and educational resources that reflect the latest evidence, ensuring that patients benefit from the most up-to-date care. Global Implications While the focus of EAM’s initiative is on Europe, the implications of this work are global. Acute care challenges are universal, and the solutions developed through this initiative will have far-reaching impact. EAM is committed to sharing its findings with the international medical community and collaborating with global health organizations to advance acute care research worldwide. EAM’s initiative represents a bold step towards addressing the crisis in acute care research. By enhancing research capacity, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that research findings translate into improved patient care, EAM is poised to make a significant contribution to the field. As this initiative progresses, EAM will continue to advocate for the importance of acute care research, ensuring that it receives the attention and resources necessary to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes in the most critical of care settings.