A groundbreaking international research effort to improve outcomes for burn survivors has been published, with Associate Professor Dale Edgar of The University of Notre Dame Australia's Institute for Health Research playing a pivotal role in shaping global priorities for burns recovery research.
The collaborative study, just released in The Lancet, identifies the Top 10 global research priorities to support better recovery and reduce complications for burn patients. This landmark project is the result of a two-year global partnership led by a steering group of 30 members—including health professionals, burn survivors, carers, and patient support representatives from 12 countries.
Associate Professor Edgar, who also serves as Head of the Burn Injury Research Node and Research Fellow at Notre Dame, was part of the core team that guided the research. The process involved two international surveys deployed as multiple language versions to over 2,200 participants across 88 countries—more than a third from low- and middle-income nations—enhanced by in-depth interviews and a final global consensus workshop.
"Burn injuries have devastating and long-lasting effects—especially in developing nations where access to acute care is limited," said Associate Professor Edgar. "By listening directly to those with lived experience alongside clinicians and support workers, we've collated the research priorities that reflect the real-world needs of patients and practitioners alike."
The final Top 10 research priorities included calls for studies of:
- More effective and affordable burn treatments
- Better pain management strategies
- Support for long-term recovery, including physical and psychological needs
- Improved care coordination across all stages of recovery
The project was conducted under the James Lind Alliance (JLA) framework, known for facilitating patient-centred research agendas in healthcare. These priorities will now guide local research efforts to enhance burn care and improve recovery outcomes—particularly in under-resourced settings. Associate Professor Edgar has already started discussions with burn patients, carers and key stakeholders in the Australia and New Zealand clinical community, to develop a meaningful burn research agenda for the region.
"The global nature of this initiative ensured that the voices of patients from all backgrounds were heard," said Associate Professor Edgar. "We're proud to contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and evidence-informed approach to burn care worldwide."
The full publication, JLA Global Burn Research Top 10 Priorities, is available in The Lancet and marks a major step forward in aligning research with the needs of burn survivors around the globe.
