The Curing Coma Campaign and the Future of Coma Research

Recovery from coma or disordered consciousness is a central issue in patients with acute brain injuries such as stroke, trauma, cardiac arrest, and brain infections. Yet, major gaps remain in the scientific underpinnings of coma and this has led to inaccuracy in prognostication and limited interventions for coma recovery. Even so, recent studies have begun to elucidate mechanisms of consciousness early and prolonged after acute brain injury and some pilot interventions have begun to be tested. The importance and scope of this led in 2019 to the development of the Curing Coma Campaign, an initiative of the Neurocritical Care Society designed to provide a platform for scientific collaboration across the patient care continuum and to empower a community for purposes of research, education, implementation science, and advocacy. Seen as a grand challenge, the Curing Coma Campaign has developed an infrastructure of scientific working groups and operational modules, along with a 10-year roadmap.

Automated summary

The recovery from coma is a crucial issue in patients with acute brain injuries, but there are still gaps in the scientific understanding of coma, resulting in inaccurate prognosis and limited interventions. However, recent studies have begun to uncover the mechanisms of consciousness after acute brain injuries and some pilot interventions have been tested. To promote scientific collaboration and advance research, education, and advocacy, the Neurocritical Care Society launched the Curing Coma Campaign in 2019.