The MEDA pole comprises physicians conducting research in the three acute medicine units of the UCLouvain Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc and CHU UCL Namur site Mont-Godinne: anesthesiology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. Our primary research work is devoted to clinical research, from local original studies to international multicenter studies, either academic or industry-sponsored. The MEDA pole does not currently have its own experimental lab, so that some PhD students of the clinical units develop their thesis work in other poles according to a translational research. The research is primarily focused on the following topics:
- Sepsis and septic shock;
- Pulmonary embolism and new anticoagulant drugs;
- Airway and respiratory management;
- Acute intoxication and poisoning;
- Neuromuscular block during surgery;
- Nutrition;
- Acute pain management;
- Elderly patient management during cardiac surgery;
Organ donation following cardio-circulatory death. Most of the researchers of this group belong to international collaborative groups, resulting in national or European leading board coordination and some co-authoring studies published in the highest impact factor journals. One of the challenges of this research sector focused on acutely-ill patients is developing fundamental aspects of clinical studies, participating in preliminary phases of drug developments, and including patients outside working hours (at nights and weekends).
Detailed information on the research activities of the MEDA pole, names of its members, main publications, financial support and contacts, are available in the activity report.