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About Rescu

Rescu is a resuscitation research network with expertise in the conduct of randomized controlled trials in life threatening injuries and illnesses requiring a multidisciplinary system of care and time sensitive interventions.  Initially launched as the Prehospital and Transport Medicine Research Program in 2000, it was rebranded as Rescu in 2006.  Rescu Investigators created and contributed to a number of research networks and investigator groups including the Termination of Resuscitation decision rule, randomized trials such as ORBIT, PrePACE, TOPHR HIT, Strategies for Post Arrest Care, Transfer AMI and EPIC. Their involvement as the largest contributing site to the US and Canadian Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium evolved in 2017 (with sustained funding from Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada) into CanROC a national resuscitation sciences research network.  Laurie J. Morrison and Ori Rotstein directed the first graduate training program in resuscitation sciences in Canada at the University of Toronto; Collaborative Specialty Training Program in Resuscitation Sciences.

The highlights

  • Collaborated with 9 regional partners providing paramedic and fire services to a population of over 8.8M and over 50 destination hospitals as Toronto Regional RescuNET
  • Engaged 14 Rescu Investigators
  • Together, Rescu Investigators were awarded over 57M in peer reviewed funding as PI or Co PI
  • Generated a high quality dataset of over 120,000 cardiac arrests and life threatening traumas – Rescu Epistry
  • Contributed to 190 publications including five RCTS and one Clinician Decision rule published in the New England Journal of Medicine
  • Contributed to the largest Cardiac arrest randomized trials published to date with over 40,000 enrolled patients
  • Engaged over 180 staff across 24 hospitals in Southern Ontario
  • Trained over 80 students in resuscitation sciences involving over 50 faculty from 14 different disciplines
  • Enabled graduate students to win over 1.8M in salary support awards
  • Supported over 30 young investigators through promotion, acquisition of operating grants and salary awards

Rescu Mission

We advance the science of resuscitation through collaboration and innovation to increase survival and reduce
disability in patients with critical illness.

Rescu Vision

Rescu redefines resuscitation research by linking the patient with prehospital and inhospital providers and policy-
makers in a cycle of discovery and knowledge translation

Our Values

The Patient 
We provide patient care while pursuing scientific advancement.

The Provider
We engage providers through education, publication and dialogue. We translate study findings into practical change in care.

The Partnerships
Research excellence and early adoption is achieved through healthy partnerships with health care providers, interdisciplinary healthcare teams, destination hospitals and institutions, government, industry, funding agencies, advocacy groups, the media and professional organizations.

The Integrity of the Science
Integrity drives excellence in design, implementation and reporting.

The Implementation of the Science
It is not enough to report the science. Pragmatic trials result in early adoption, change in practice and improved outcomes. By shining a light on practice, safety, and process, we help to optimize care and improve outcomes.

The Importance of the Scientific Question
We focus our resources on answering questions that are important to the advancement of science and improving patient outcomes.