(CTSN) Call for Protocol Concepts

Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network (CTSN) Call for Protocol Concepts

In recognition of the need for clinical evaluations in cardiac surgery the National Institutes of Health (through the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute with collaboration from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research have recently established the Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network (CTSN). The CTSN is a cooperative network of academic medical centers whose goal is to foster rigorous scientific comparisons and promote the evaluation of newer surgical techniques, technologies, devices, and innovative pharmaceutical and bioengineered products directed at cardiovascular disease. The CTSN is comprised of a Data Coordinating Center, The International Center for Health Outcomes and Innovation Research (InCHOIR) at Columbia University and eight Clinical Centers

o Cleveland Clinic Foundation
o Columbia University Medical Center
o Duke University/Eastern Carolinas Heart Institute
o Emory University
o Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine
o Montreal Heart Institute
o University of Pennsylvania
o University of Virginia Health System

The Network has an interest in promoting collaborative interactions with the broader surgical community and consideration of clinical research ideas from colleagues in the surgical community, allied health specialties, and academic areas.  To bring ideas forward for consideration by the Network, an investigator outside the network can log into the CTSN website for further information.