Center for Resuscitation Medicine

The Center for Resuscitation Medicine is a virtual, interdisciplinary center at the University of Minnesota Medical School with the goal to advance research, education, and community engagement in the field of resuscitation medicine.
The Center for Resuscitation Medicine will be the first of its kind center in the US dedicated to innovative research, world-class training, and clinical leadership to improve outcomes for sudden cardiac arrest.
Goals
- Pioneer advances in the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest
- Advance training for the next generation of resuscitation clinicians and scientists
- Provide the framework to accelerate treatments and new discoveries to optimize patient care
- Lead a coordinated response to the needs of sudden cardiac arrest patients in Minnesota and become a model for cities across the US
Deliverables
- Data collection and analysis for the mobile ECMO project
- CARES-statewide resuscitation efforts based on research, data collection, and new science
- Training coordination for MMRC project
- RO1 NIH funding for future grants
- For publications, please select provider under CRM Director
About Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is an electrical malfunction of the heart that is immediate, and unexpected. This loss of heart function disrupts its pumping, stopping blood flow to the rest of your body.
SCA is NOT a heart attack, which is when a blockage limits blood flow to a portion of the heart. A heart attack can however trigger an electrical malfunction that leads to sudden cardiac arrest.
If not treated immediately, SCA can cause sudden cardiac death. Beginning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or chest compressions can improve the chances of survival until emergency personnel arrive.
Minnesota Mobile Resuscitation Consortium (MMRC)

The MMRC is an independent 501c3, community consortium owned by health care systems with a mission to implement a rapid response medical strategy to provide Minnesota the highest survival in the world from OHCA. This was developed as part of the mobile ECMO project funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust. The four-year funding supports the development and implementation to ensure that the MMRC will become a sustainable and expanding for many years.
Goals
- A separate community version of the clinical protocol at UMMC directed at refractory out-of-hospital VF arrest
- Creation of a shared community resource to provide expertise and equipment rapidly for these patients.
- Requires coordination of multiple EMS services, healthcare systems, and medical experts.
Highly specialized, critical care teams consisting of MDs, Nurses, and paramedics from participating health care systems are deployed to hospital emergency departments across the metro region, to intensively intervene in cardiac arrest cases by beginning ECMO and other critical care services with a target of 911- call to ECMO support <40 minutes. Next stage includes a mobile unit that can provide the time-sensitive care at health care sites that cannot accommodate ECMO in their facility. This project will significantly improve survival rates for cardiac arrest patients and change how care is delivered in the future.
Resuscitation Research
ACCESS
ACCESS is an NHLBI funded multi-center research study that aims to determine the best method of care for survival and neurological recovery for patients resuscitated after cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) outside of the hospital, but who have no evidence of a heart attack on electrocardiogram (ECG).
ARREST
ARREST is a research study that aims to determine the best method of care for patients with a shockable rhythm who respond poorly or not at all to CPR and medications after an out of hospital cardiac arrest.
Community & First Responders Tools
Bystander Response
- Partnering with existing groups and programs, the MRC supports awareness and training for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)
- Emphasis on training in schools, workplaces and special events
- Broadly and strategically placing AEDs, with program partnerships to assist in rapid location and deployment
LEARN CPR BYSTANDER CPR REGISTRY
Are you providing bystander CPR training? Click here to add your numbers and help train 10% of Minnesotans to perform CPR and save a life.
A free online Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Registry that supports AED owners in the proper maintenance of their AEDs.
REGISTER YOUR AED MINNESOTA AED REGISTRY
How To
HEART SAFE COMMUNITY DESIGNATION
This program is coordinated and supported by the Minnesota Department of Health and American Heart Association-Minnesota. Gain recognition and evaluate your community's preparedness for cardiac emergencies by downloading and completing the statewide Heart Safe Community Designation Toolkit and Application.
CARES
The CRM works with dispatch, first responders, fire, EMS, and health care centers to:
- Support development of guidelines for 911 dispatch assisted CPR
- Develop protocols for pre-hospital cardiac arrest management
- Improve rapid access to the cath lab for cardiac arrest patients
- Collaboration for development of best practices and coordinated clinical care
The CRM started as the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium in 2011 with the www.heartrescueproject.com to improve outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest. The National Heart Rescue project continues to support the expansion of cardiac arrest data collection through CARES and has funded small projects at the CRM.
CARES Minnesota Reports
Minnesota AED Project
The University of Minnesota received an $18.8M grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust to fund the Minnesota AED Project. The Minnesota AED Project was designed to provide AEDs across the state of Minnesota to law enforcement agencies and first responders, aiming to increase cardiac arrest. To learn more about the launch of the Minnesota AED Project, please follow the link below for the press release.
MN First Responder AED Project Sheet
Minnesota Helmsley Resource Guide
Minnesota AED Recycle/Reuse

The CRM has many AEDs that are still in good usable to place in community locations. These AEDs have been checked and updated. They are ready to find new uses and save lives. If you have any questions, please check our fact sheet. If you are ready to apply for an AED for a community location, start filling out the application. From time of application to delivery is approximately 3-4 weeks dependent on parts availability.
Resuscitation Education, Observerships & Publications
Education Opportunities - Coming Soon
Observerships
Publications
- Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium's Advanced Perfusion and Reperfusion Cardiac Life Support Strategy for Out-of-Hospital Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation
- Change in out-of-hospital 12-lead ECG diagnostic classification following resuscitation from cardiac arrest
- Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults: evidence and implications
- Overview of Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) Support for the Management of Cardiogenic Shock
CRM Director
Professor of Medicine; Robert Eddy Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Resuscitation; Research Director, Interventional Cardiology; Director, Center for Resuscitation Medicine
Assistant Professor of Medicine; Associate Director, Center for Resuscitation Medicine; President of the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium; Medical Director, University of Minnesota Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Critical Care/Interventional Cardiology
Contact
Phone: (612) 626-1382
Email: crm911@umn.edu
Email: mecmo@umn.edu
Social Media
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Facebook: umn_resuscitation
Twitter: @MMRCbeat
Instagram: umn_resuscitation