Dive into the Shark Tank at CRIKEY 2025
Last month, CCRG hosted the second biennial Critical care Research International: Knowledge, Evidence and beYond (CRIKEY) Summit. An invitation-only think tank, CRIKEY is designed as a platform for robust conversations that challenge our understanding of critical care medicine and international collaboration.
One of the main pillars of CRIKEY is to discover and nurture emerging research leaders and provide them with unique professional development opportunities. This year, that meant a "Shark Tank" where five EMCRs pitched their ambitious research projects for fictitious funding.
EMCRs were scored on the plausibility of their project, the potential to improve outcomes and presentation style by a panel of esteemed judges - Dr Glen Richards from Shark Tank Australia, Dr Jacky Suen, and UQ Institute for Molecular Bioscience's Prof Ian Henderson.
The first EMCR to dive in with the sharks was Dr Irene Telias from the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada. Dr Telias is currently undertaking her PhD at the University of Toronto. Her research is focused on understanding the determinants, physiological, and clinical consequences of abnormal patient-ventilator interactions during early mechanical ventilation.
Dr Telias pitched a project to investigate the adjustment in ventilation settings to prevent harm by minimising sedation and accelerating liberation.
Next up, Dr Naofumi Bunya from the Sapporo Medical University pitched a research project on ECPR and indicators associated with favourable outcomes.
In 2008, Dr Bunya joined the Department of Emergency Medicine at Sapporo Medical University as an emergency physician, focusing primarily on critical care. During the coronavirus pandemic he was appointed to oversee ECMO treatment in his home prefecture.
Dr Jules Devaux is a Research Fellow in the Applied Surgery and Metabolism Lab (ASML) of the School of Biological Sciences. University of Auckland New Zealand. Here, his general research interests lay in the mitochondrial function and dysfunction in various animal models. Dr Devaux focuses on species with extreme physiological adaptations, such as bees and sharks, aiming to explore how these unique systems can inform translational biomedical research and inspire biomimicry in clinical applications.
For CRIKEY, he pitched to establish the S.H.A.R.K (Survival, Healing, Adaptation, Regeneration, and Knowledge) Institute.
Our fourth EMCR to pitch was Dr Joe Hippensteel, an Assistant Professor in Medicine, Pulmonary Sciences & Critical Care at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Dr Hippensteel’s research interests focus on the cognitive consequences of sepsis and other critical illnesses. Dr Hippensteel performs both basic and translational research, seeking to identify the relevance of brain-penetrating heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate in these conditions, ultimately seeking to develop novel biomarkers or therapeutics for these understudied problems.
At CRIKEY, he spoke about critical illness syndromes, including sepsis, and how they can be better understood through identification of treatable sub-phenotypes based upon readily available demographic information and biomarkers attained during illness.
The final EMCR to take the plunge was CCRG’s own Dr Jessica Benitez, ICETLab Research Fellow.
Dr Benitez is a Biomedical Engineer with a PhD in cardiovascular biomechanics and dual Master’s degrees in medical physics and lumbar spine biomechanics. Dr Benitez’s doctoral studies have provided her with extensive expertise in computational biomechanics, patient-specific medical imaging analysis, and experimental analysis of biological tissue. She also possesses a strong foundation in medical physics. Currently, Dr Benitez’s research focuses on analysing the fluid and structural biomechanics of carotid arteries, coronary arteries, heart atrium, and intracranial aneurysms.
For CRIKEY, she pitched the development of a novel oxygenator, inspired by the shape of pulmonary alveoli, to address common challenges including thrombosis and stagnation, while integrating advanced monitoring capabilities, thereby enhancing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Congratulations to our winners: People's Choice - Dr Jules Devaux, The University of Auckland, Judge's Choice - Dr Joseph Hippensteel, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
CRIKEY is an invitation-only think tank for robust conversations that challenge our understanding of crit care medicine and catalyse new perspectives. Founded by CCRG in 2023, this year's Summit saw 80+ delegates from 27 countries come together for a four day programme of talks, tours, conference and conversations across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Queensland, 25-28 February 2025.
CRIKEY 2025 Sponsors and Event Partners:
Presenting Partner - Philips
Platinum Sponsor - Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
Gold Sponsors - Fresenius Medical Care, Löwenstein Medical
Silver Sponsors - Chinabridge Medical, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Event Partner - The Common Good, an initiative of The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation
Videography - Ignition Films
Photography - Red Stockholm