Research

The University of Michigan (U-M) Department of Emergency Medicine is dedicated to creating the future of emergency care through innovative research and creative scholarship.  As one of the most successful academic emergency medicine programs in the country, our research mission continues to flourish. For over a decade, our department has consistently been ranked one of the top two Departments of Emergency Medicine in the US with regards to the amount of NIH funding it has been awarded. In 2021, our department received over 11% of the total NIH amount of NIH funds awarded to emergency departments.  Four of our faculty members were among the top 50 most highly NIH-funded NIH emergency medicine researcher

Department faculty also receive funding from other distinguished funders, including:

  • National Science Foundation
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Department of Defense
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan
  • The Emergency Medicine Foundation

In 2021 alone, the department received more than $15 million in grant funding.

The department cultivates a research focus in basic, translational, clinical, and policy aspects of emergency medicine and critical care.  Our faculty play an active role in directing the national research agenda related to the care of acutely ill and injured patients, injury prevention, and health services research through service on national committees and peer review.

With 15 research faculty, and another 40+ clinical faculty who engage in scholarly activities, the department has a robust research capacity.  Emergency medicine faculty with funded research projects can be found here.

Through its Networks & Centers, the department promotes research by funding pilot studies, small research projects, clinical trials, and more. These include the Massey TBI Grand Challenge which provides up to $1 million each year to support discoveries and the diagnosis and management of traumatic brain injury and the Kahn Pediatric Critical Care Grand Challenge which provides up to $400,000 for research into innovative solutions in pediatric critical care.  Explore all Emergency Medicine research projects here and peruse publications by Emergency Medicine faculty. The department holds an annual William G. Barsan Emergency Medicine Research Forum to showcase ongoing research activities and accomplishments. 

We have a number of Research Training programs and opportunities for trainees. We also provide research resources and enablers to all emergency medicine faculty and trainees to lower the energy barrier for grant applications.