Innovative approaches to equity research in trauma: current work and aspirations from the Summit on the Advancement of Focused Equity Research in Trauma (SAFER-Trauma).

On August 2-3, 2023, the Summit on the Advancement of Focused Equity Research in Trauma (SAFER-Trauma) convened to discuss strategies to support research to eliminate disparities in trauma care. An ongoing challenge for performing high-quality equity-based research is the uncomfortable recognition that implicit bias and structural racism are deeply ingrained in our society and culture and are therefore often unrecognized in medicine and research practices. Throughout SAFER-Trauma, several examples of strategies to overcome these challenges were presented. In this article, we will relate a diverse array of examples through three distinct angles. The first focuses on innovations that harness existing data in novel and groundbreaking ways, uncovering fresh insights and applications from information already at our disposal. The second examines innovations that arise from traditional healthcare systems and research methods, showing how research in the healthcare sphere can adapt to meet modern needs. The third will explore projects that emerged from communities, driven by the pressing needs and aspirations of the people they serve.