Conducting Research in the ED

The emergency department (ED) is a key hub for patient care and research, supporting studies by faculty from the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) and beyond. Recognizing the ED’s role in advancing science, DEM is committed to fostering integrative, multidisciplinary research.

To ensure high-quality research while prioritizing patient and staff safety and clinical efficiency, DEM has established research infrastructure and processes. Before starting any ED-based research, faculty and trainees must secure approval from the Emergency Medicine Research Committee (EMRC). Researchers outside DEM are strongly encouraged—and often required—to include a DEM faculty member as an investigator.

The EMRC evaluates scientific merit, study feasibility, and potential impact on patient care and departmental operations. It safeguards against excessive subject burden, study conflicts, and risks to patients, visitors, or staff. The approval process is designed to facilitate, not hinder, research, with meetings held twice monthly.

Prior to submitting a study for IRB review, all investigators must complete the following steps:

1. Email demresearch@medicine.wisc.edu to schedule a time to present the protocol to the EMRC. The presentation should be made by the PI or UW Site PI. EMRC meetings occur on the first and third Tuesday of every month, from 12:30–1:30 p.m.
2. Submit the draft IRB application, or a study protocol, with all supporting documents (e.g., surveys) to demresearch@medicine.wisc.edu in advance of the meeting. These items are due by the Tuesday ahead of the Research Committee meeting date. In order to support robust discussion on each protocol, these documents will be distributed to EMRC members for review ahead of the meeting.
3. Attend the meeting to briefly present the protocol and engage in a discussion regarding the study. This presentation should include:
   • The purpose
   • The timeline
   • The research methods including the study population, eligibility criteria, and recruitment
     objectives (N= __)
   • ED resources needed
   • Impact on ED operations
   • Funding for research activities
   • Funding for IRB review
4. The EMRC will either approve the study or request changes. If approved, the Principal Investigator (PI) will receive an approval letter confirming EMRC approval. This letter may be provided to other institutional committees and oversight bodies as documentation of EMRC review and approval of the research activity.

A well-structured protocol streamlines EMRC and IRB reviews while ensuring rigorous research methods. The UW Health Sciences IRB provides an Investigator Manual and other resources at irb.wisc.edu — reviewing these is strongly recommended.