What is INCEPTION?
IMPLEMENTING NOVEL CAUSAL EVALUATIONS IN THE PRACTICAL TRIAL AND THOUGH AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVATIONAL DATA NETWORK
INCEPTION is a coordinated research project designed to improve treatment and outcomes for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) using real-world observation data (like the data collected in the iCORE and INDEX projects) to emulate clinical trials. Randomized control trials (RCTs) are generally considered the “gold standard” for assessing treatments, but they have limitations. Emulated clinical trials can address causal questions that RCTs have not answered or cannot answer for logistical, ethical, or financial reasons. By providing real-world evidence to complement traditional trials, the INCEPTION project has the potential to enhance personalized treatment for ARDS patients and influence future clinical trial designs.
OUR GOALS
Goal #1: Emulating Clinical Trials to Assess ARDS Treatment Options
To assess how effective different interventions are for preventing ARDS-related mortality.
Trial Emulation #1: Driving Pressure-Limited Ventilation Strategies for ARDS Patients
We can simulate different drive-pressured limited ventilation strategies using real-world hospital data and determine which settings reduce mortality and improve recovery
Trial Emulation #2: Role of Corticosteroids in ARDS Treatment
Currently, the use of corticosteroids in ARDS treatment is debated, as it is currently unclear which patients benefit the most, and how corticosteroids should be administered over time. We can simulate different approaches to corticosteroid interventions using real-world hospital data to assess the impact on patient mortality.
Goal #2: Study Effect Modification of Interventions
To assess how ARDS interventions affect different patient groups based on their unique characteristics. We will study driving pressure-limited ventilation strategies and the use of corticosteroids and assess whether factors like respiratory system compliance and hypoxemia severity impact treatment outcomes.
