TRC4 is a collaborative initiative at UT Health San Antonio that works closely with the Department of Defense and the entire UT System to enhance trauma care both on and off the battlefield. Traumatic injuries are a leading cause of death among individuals aged one through 45 years, and rank as the third leading cause of death across all age groups in the U.S.
James Bynum, PhD, serves as the vice chair of research for the Department of Surgery at UT Health San Antonio and the executive director of TRC4. He highlights the urgent need for cutting-edge research to improve the care, survival rate, and quality of life for trauma injuries like traumatic brain injuries and burns.
TRC4’s focus is on developing better treatment and resuscitation strategies, skin substitutes for wound healing, and addressing the long-lasting mental effects of major trauma, particularly in the civilian sector. San Antonio’s reputation as a hub for health research for the military makes it an ideal setting for TRC4’s research initiatives. Bynum, with over 20 years of experience as a Department of Defense researcher, views this as a significant opportunity to make a positive impact. He considers the work at TRC4 as noble and meaningful, serving those who risk their lives to protect the country’s freedom.
Bynum’s dedication to TRC4’s mission stems from a desire to ensure that those in harm’s way receive the best possible care. The collaboration between TPR and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in the Science & Medicine initiative explores how scientific advancements in San Antonio are transforming medical practices globally.