The goal of the workshop is to provide novel research recommendations in the area of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This goal will be accomplished by bringing together applied and basic scientists including clinicians and bioengineers. By building upon state-of-the-art understanding, the workshop will; (1) foster exchange of novel ideas between experts from unrelated disciplines and (2) identify future novel research directions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This workshop is not intended as a consensus conference.

The workshop is planned by the NIH (NHLBI, NICHD, NIGMS, and NINDS) plus other federal agencies (FDA and DOD) in collaboration with ACC, AHA, and possibly other professional societies to facilitate an interactive forum to address research concerns and recommend novel, new research directions. The focus is on both basic science and clinical applications as they apply to the-chain-of-survival. The two chairpersons are Myron Weisfeldt, MD, Columbia University, and Robert Wise, MD, Johns Hopkins University. PULSE is organized into seven parallel workshops in the following areas:

• Acute Myocardial Rescue
• Neurologic Preservation
• Pharmacology and Molecular Mechanisms
• Pulmonary and Ventilatory Failure
• Mechanics of CPR
• Bioengineering
• Epidemiology
• Trauma

Each parallel discussion group is headed by one chair and two co-chairpersons and include up to ten topic leaders. The objective of the seven discussion groups is to examine research needs relevant to each topic area including relevant pediatric concerns. Each group will draft recommendations that then will be discussed in two subsequent parallel groups; Basic Science and Clinical Applications. This format will facilitate "cross-pollination of ideas" between relatively unrelated fields. The recommendations will then be presented, prioritized, and formalized in a final draft at the conclusion of the workshop.