Dr. Johnson Receives Funding for New Studies

Dr. Nick Johnson recently received funding for two new studies. The first one, titled ‘Strategies and Treatments for Respiratory and Viral Emergencies (STRIVE)’ is underway and sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

The primary objective of the STRIVE platform is to facilitate the efficient and rigorous execution of randomized clinical trials. It will specifically look at those investigating the safety and efficacy of therapeutic interventions or strategies for acute respiratory infections among hospitalized adults. The first trial will examine the efficacy of a novel protease inhibitor in COVID-19. The network is projected to last until April 2025.

Dr. Johnson will also serve as the co-investigator on a new trial titled, ‘Targeted SEDation in mechanically ventilated Emergency Department patients: The ED-SED Clinical Trial,’ which is also sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and led by Dr. Brian Fuller at Washington University.

Emergency physicians commonly administer sedative and paralytic medications to facilitate endotracheal intubation (i.e. placement of a breathing tube). However, these practices may be associated with awareness with paralysis, a dreaded complication where patients may have memories of wakeful paralysis. Using an implementation science framework, the trial aims to reduce awareness with paralysis after emergency tracheal intubation.

By studying awareness with paralysis, post-traumatic stress disorder, and patient-centered experiences among survivors of acute respiratory failure, this project will have important implications for how mechanically ventilated emergency department patients are treated worldwide.

The study is projected to last until February 2028.