Advancing prehospital care through research and collaboration

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Our Story

The Trauma Hemostasis and Oxygenation Research (THOR) Network is a international multidisciplinary group of practitioners and investigators that aims to improve outcomes and safety in patients with severe traumatic injury through improved monitoring and resuscitation techniques. The Network membership is an international balance of military and civilian personnel, clinicians, basic scientists, and clinical trialists. The multidisciplinary nature of the THOR Network is one of its main strengths. Our focus on training, education, research, and advocacy has inspired and accelerated change internationally to improve outcomes for patients with hemorrhagic shock. The THOR Network’s focus on prehospital care and inclusion of medics and first responders is unique and allows for crosstalk between the ones providing care and those developing the science to drive change in care.

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Our Mission

To develop and implement best practices for prehospital care through to the completion of the acute phase of hemorrhagic shock resuscitation. The THOR Network will execute this mission through a multidisciplinary collaborative approach to research, education, training, and advocacy

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Our Vision

To improve outcomes from traumatic hemorrhagic shock by optimizing the acute phase of resuscitation.

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THOR Network Timeline

2004

The clinical use of fresh whole blood is initiated for combat casualties at the 31st CSH in Baghdad, Iraq.

2005

The US Army initiates a platelet apheresis program in Iraq, which facilitates the use of blood components in a 1:1:1 ratio until whole blood can be collected.

2007

First publication reporting an independent association between the use of high plasma to RBC ratios with improved survival

2009

First publication reporting an independent association between the use of fresh whole blood and improved survival

2009

Fresh whole blood program for exsanguinating patients primarily with gastrointestinal bleeding using emergency donor panels established on Royal Caribbean Cruise Liners

2009

French military starts to use freeze dried plasma for combat casualties

2010

Concept of THOR developed in Innsbruck Austria by Geir Strandenes and Philip C.Spinella

2011

First annual symposium conducted in Bergen, Norway. One day meeting

2012

Annual symposium location moved to the Solstrand Spa in Os, Norway. Meeting expanded to 3 days

2012

First summary of the THOR annual symposium published in Transfusion and Apheresis Science.

2012

US Special Forces gain access to French produced dried plasma for combat casualty care.

2013

First publication of a THOR Conference Proceedings as a supplement in the Journal of Transfusion.

2013

Israeli Medical Forces begin to use freeze dried plasma

2014

Tactical Combat Casualty Care Committee (TCCC) prioritizes whole blood as the optimal resuscitative product for traumatic hemorrhagic shock.

2014

The Norwegian Helicopter Emergency Medical Services starts to use freeze dried plasma.

2015

Low titer group O whole blood clinical programs started in Bergen and Pittsburgh for civilian casualties

2015

The 75th Ranger Regiment starts a LTOWB prehospital program that was developed at the annual THOR symposium.

2017

The US Army initiates a cold stored platelet program for clinical use in combat casualties

2017

THOR on the Road meeting in Modena, Italy in collaboration with the Italian Army

2018

The THOR Network successfully submitted a proposal to change the AABB standards allowing for cold stored LTOWB to be used for life threatening bleeding of any etiology

2020

THOR on the Road meeting in Israel that accelerates the use of LTOWB for civilian trauma casualties

2023

THOR on the Road meeting in Perth, Australia conducted in collaboration with the Australian Army that accelerates the development of prehospital LTOWB programs

THOR Conference Symposium
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DISCOVER BREAKTHROUGHS IN PRE- HOSPITAL HEMORRHAGE MANAGEMENT AND TRAUMA CARE AT OUR ANNUAL GLOBAL SYMPOSIUM.

The Trauma Hemostasis and Oxygenation Research (THOR) Network held its first Thor Conference symposium in 2011, focusing on pre-hospital fresh whole blood (FWB) use for severe traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Aiming to assess FWB's efficacy and safety, the symposium's findings were published in 2012. The event expanded to 3 days in 2012, targeting hemorrhagic shock monitoring and treatment, with THOR presenting globally and publishing conference proceedings in major medical journals. The Annual THOR Network Symposium has been held outside of Bergen every year until 2024 where it will be held in Miami, and the symposium will now start rotating between Norway and other international sites to expand reach. Additionally, The THOR Network supports Mini-THOR meetings globally, including in Brazil, Switzerland, Israel, Spain, Italy, Australia, and Poland.

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Sword Award

Honorary Viking Awards

The Viking Sword Award started in 2016. The award was developed to recognize a THOR member’s dedication and achievements in advancing the care of patients with hemorrhagic shock. Awardees have been:

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KEVIN WARD, 2024

MARK YAZER, 2023

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ELIZABETH WALTMAN, 2022

ANDRE CAP, 2019

PHILIP SPINELLA, 2018

ELON GLASSBERG, 2017

Donald Jenkins, 2016

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Collaborations

The THOR Network is proud to collaborate with leading institutions and experts worldwide.

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