University of Delaware receives DoD grant to create and manage BADER Consortium

The Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program (PRORP) has awarded a $19.7 million grant to the University of Delaware to create and manage a consortium that will improve the quality of life for warfighters who suffer significant limb injuries in combat.

The Bridging Advanced Developments for Exceptional Rehabilitation (BADER) Consortium will conduct clinical trial research at several hospitals, both military and civilian, across the country.

"This consortium will greatly advance post-injury treatment, and will develop new standards of care for not only these service men and women, but also for Americans with limb damage from accidents," said CDMRP Director COL Jeffrey Leggit, M.D. "Working together, the scientists, clinicians, and patients of these premier organizations will be able to more effectively analyze the benefits of potential treatments, and bring these practices forward rapidly."

COL Leggit added that the long-term goal of the consortium is to create an infrastructure of relationships among the participating organizations, allowing the consortium to operate as an independent entity for clinical trials.

Dr. Steven Stanhope, a professor in Delaware's Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, will serve as principal investigator and consortium director. Dr. Stanhope expressed his vision and goals for the consortium.

"An important characteristic of the BADER Consortium is the exceedingly high level of collaboration we ultimately seek to establish between military treatment facilities, the Veterans Administration, large scale clinical centers, existing DoD consortia, and the scientific community." Dr. Stanhope said. "We have already begun promoting awareness of key orthopaedic research priorities and strengthening existing collaborative networks. Through the identification of strategic clinical pathways, we will fulfill one long-term goal of establishing a cadre of outcomes-oriented clinical research initiatives that result in the highest level of evidence-based orthopaedic rehabilitation care."