The global evidence mapping initiative in traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury

The Global Evidence Mapping Initiative in Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury

Chief Investigator: Professor Russell Gruen
Associate Investigators: Ms Emma Tavender
Lead Organisations: The National Trauma Research Institute, Alfred Health.

VNI Funding: $1,442,182
Project Start Date: 1 August 2007

Project Summary

Background
Keeping up to date with the latest information relevant to the treatment of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury is challenging. This information is vital for optimizing health care delivery and identifying the next research frontiers.

Aim
The Global Evidence Mapping (GEM) Initiative is bringing together a network of people and organisations to develop innovative methods of characterising and contextualising research. This project is a collaboration between the National Trauma Research Institute, Monash University, the National Institute of Clinical Studies, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Southern Health, the Australasian Cochrane Centre and National ICT Australia. The Global Evidence Mapping (GEM) Initiative aims to make available evidence about 'best-practice' approaches and knowledge 'gaps' by systematically identifying, updating, appraising and delivering existing research evidence in the fields of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. It is engaging experts in evidence-based medicine and knowledge transfer nationally and internationally.

Evidence Mapping builds on the strengths of existing methods of reviewing, organising and making available research evidence. Rather than being detailed systematic reviews of isolated research questions, evidence maps address broad topic areas and convey what research exists; its strengths, weaknesses and gaps; and its relevance to different users in a range of contexts and settings. It therefore will improve the applicability of health care research for clinicians, consumers, guideline developers, educators and research agencies everywhere.

Method
Project staff are based at the National Trauma Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Our collaborators are groups of people interested in developing methods of evidence mapping and using evidence maps in policy, research and clinical practice. Our expert team and our national and international advisors are creating an evidence resource tailored to the needs of the trauma research and practice community.

Results
Preliminary maps of research evidence in the prehospital Care, rehabilitation and acute care phases of TBI & SCI have been completed. Work is ongoing to map existing studies for particular questions, and to develop tools to facilitate use of the map by patients, researchers, clinicians and managers.

In 2009, the GEM Initiative was invited to become one of 20 technical members of the WHO Health Evidence Network.

This accolade reflects the novel and important work the GEM Initiative is doing, in particular in bringing the research, clinical and policy communities together to develop methods for organising, appraising and making available existing research evidence in broad content areas such as neurotrauma for use by guideline developers, researchers and research funders.

Evidence maps are posted on the project website at www.evidencemap.org


The global evidence mapping initiative in traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury The Global Evidence Mapping Initiative in Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Chief Investigator: Professor Russell Gruen Associate Investigators: Ms Emma Tavender Lead Organisations: The National Trauma Research Institute, Alfred Health. VNI Funding: $1,442,182 Project Start Date: 1 August 2007 Project Summary Background Keeping up to date with the latest information relevant to the treatment of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury is challenging. This information is vital for optimizing health care delivery and identifying the next research frontiers. Aim The Global Evidence Mapping (GEM) Initiative is bringing together a network of people and organisations to develop innovative methods of characterising and contextualising research. This project is a collaboration between the National Trauma Research Institute, Monash University, the National Institute of Clinical Studies, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Southern Health, the Australasian Cochrane Centre and National ICT Australia. The Global Evidence Mapping (GEM) Initiative aims to make available evidence about 'best-practice' approaches and knowledge 'gaps' by systematically identifying, updating, appraising and delivering existing research evidence in the fields of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. It is engaging experts in evidence-based medicine and knowledge transfer nationally and internationally. Evidence Mapping builds on the strengths of existing methods of reviewing, organising and making available research evidence. Rather than being detailed systematic reviews of isolated research questions, evidence maps address broad topic areas and convey what research exists; its strengths, weaknesses and gaps; and its relevance to different users in a range of contexts and settings. It therefore will improve the applicability of health care research for clinicians, consumers, guideline developers, educators and research agencies everywhere. Method Project staff are based at the National Trauma Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Our collaborators are groups of people interested in developing methods of evidence mapping and using evidence maps in policy, research and clinical practice. Our expert team and our national and international advisors are creating an evidence resource tailored to the needs of the trauma research and practice community. Results Preliminary maps of research evidence in the prehospital Care, rehabilitation and acute care phases of TBI & SCI have been completed. Work is ongoing to map existing studies for particular questions, and to develop tools to facilitate use of the map by patients, researchers, clinicians and managers. In 2009, the GEM Initiative was invited to become one of 20 technical members of the WHO Health Evidence Network. This accolade reflects the novel and important work the GEM Initiative is doing, in particular in bringing the research, clinical and policy communities together to develop methods for organising, appraising and making available existing research evidence in broad content areas such as neurotrauma for use by guideline developers, researchers and research funders. Evidence maps are posted on the project website at www.evidencemap.org