ABOUT THOR - THOR NETWORK

Our Story

THOR Network Foundation

The THOR Network Foundation was founded in 2010 through a collaboration between U.S. and Norwegian experts in trauma and transfusion medicine, with a mission to improve outcomes for patients with life-threatening bleeding through education, training, advocacy, and research. As the Network grew, it became a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charity, bringing together a global community of military and civilian clinicians, scientists, and patient advocates dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for patients with severe bleeding. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a member.

While THOR’s early focus was trauma, the Foundation now addresses all causes of life-threatening hemorrhage across the continuum of care. Learn more about the THOR Network Foundation and ways to support our mission – Find out more about the THOR Network Foundation here.

THOR Research Institute

A subsidiary of the THOR Network Foundation, TRI advances trauma and hemorrhage care through targeted, high-impact research — from bench to bedside to battlefield. The TRI performs its own translational research and provides advisory services related to research and development to industry, academia, government and venture capital groups. Find out more about the THOR Research Institute here.

Global Impact

Driving Practice Change
Accelerating adoption of evidence-based resuscitation practices in both prehospital and in hospital settings across civilian and military systems, from point of injury through hospital admission.

Advancing Precision & Data-Driven Resuscitation
Shaping the use of improved diagnostics, targeted resuscitation strategies, and data-driven innovation to deliver the right blood products and therapies at the right time.

Improving Survival and Recovery
Improving survival and quality of life for patients with hemorrhagic shock and related critical illnesses, including burns, brain injury, respiratory failure, renal failure, and sepsis.

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

2024

Initiation of the MATIC-2 Trial that is examining the efficacy and safety of whole blood and TXA in children with life threatening bleeding from traumatic injury.

2025

THOR on the Road meetings planned in Ireland and Italy to accelerate the implementation of RDCR and DCR strategies.

THOR Viking Award

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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