The Department of Defense, UT System, and UT Health San Antonio have collaborated to form TRC4, an initiative aimed at improving trauma care. Traumatic injuries are a leading cause of death among people aged one through 45 years, and they are the third leading cause of death across all age groups in the U.S.
TRC4 is led by James Bynum, PhD, who serves as the vice chair of research for the Department of Surgery at UT Health San Antonio and is also the executive director of TRC4. This collaborative was established to conduct cutting-edge research aimed at enhancing care, survival rates, and quality of life for trauma injuries such as traumatic brain injuries and burns.
Bynum emphasized the importance of developing better treatment and resuscitation strategies, as well as skin substitutes for wound healing. He noted that major trauma can have long-lasting mental effects. San Antonio, known as a health research hub for the military, is an ideal location for TRC4’s research initiatives. Bynum views this collaboration as a significant opportunity to make a difference from a civilian perspective after years of service with the Army. He regards his work as a noble endeavor dedicated to improving the lives of those who put themselves in harm’s way so that everyone can enjoy freedom as a country.
In addition to TRC4’s work on trauma care, Science & Medicine is another collaborative project between TPR and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio that highlights how scientific discoveries in San Antonio are transforming medical practices worldwide.
