FAER’s Plate Full With New Programs, Expanded Activities

n 2005, the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) advanced the efforts of the research councils in critical care, geriatrics, pain and pediatrics to broaden involvement of the anesthesiology community. This expansion is an outreach to practitioners, academicians and governmental and lay organizations as a way of promoting additional avenues to attract more high-quality proposals focused on clinical and translational science.

Council membership grew to include individuals from subspecialty organizations and experts in the related practice areas of anesthesiology. Additional participation will be sought from time to time. Adjunct members at-large thus far include:

Critical Care Research Council:
Clifford S. Deutschman, M.D.
Peter J. Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D.

Geriatrics Research Council:
David J. Cook, M.D.
G. Alec Rooke, M.D.
Jeffrey H. Silverstein, M.D.

Pain Research Council:
Timothy J. Brennan, M.D., Ph.D.
David L. Brown, M.D.
Timothy R. Deer, M.D.
Thomas P. Malan, Jr., M.D., Ph.D.
James P. Rathmell, M.D.
Richard W. Rosenquist, M.D.

Pediatrics Research Council:
Charles D. Kurth, M.D.
Francis X. McGowan, Jr., M.D.
Lena S. Sun, M.D.

The councils meet via teleconference and have been working to identify key research questions on topics with the potential for greatest patient benefit. They also explore various ways to partner with industry and seek other sources of support with common goals. Specifically the FAER Geriatrics Research Council issued a Request for Applications (RFA) in January 2006 to address key research questions identified for geriatrics research (see below). The council believes that an RFA will encourage competitive applications in this area and, if approved by the Research Committee, will be funded by FAER and also qualify for subsequent support by foundations and corporations working in similar fields. If this initial effort proves successful in attracting meritorious applications, the program will be replicated by the other councils. The pain, pediatrics and critical care research councils also are in the process of identifying key research questions in their respective areas.

In addition to research council activities, for the past three years, FAER has convened a retreat of various leaders in our specialty to discuss challenges and future trends in anesthesiology. These retreats placed special focus on education and research training as the cornerstone of our specialty. Subsequently ASA leadership has initiated several workgroups, engaged ASA committees and directed additional effort and resources to address these issues, which are critical to the future viability of the specialty.

This year the FAER retreat will ask how we can collaborate with the subspecialties in anesthesiology to improve discovery, innovation and research opportunities in their areas of interest and expertise. Topics for discussion include their perceptions vis-a-vis:

• Research targeted by a Request for Proposal/RFA mechanism;

• Key questions to be answered;

• Potential for a research partnership with FAER; and

• Opportunities with industry and relevant public and private support groups.

These points, along with many others, are issues that need to be considered and addressed. A discussion with leaders of the subspecialty organizations could lead to strategic decisions to leverage our respective assets and talents. The ultimate goal for the meeting is to strengthen and sustain the initial progress that is being made in our research, education and training efforts.

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