JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – A trauma drug study aims to save the lives of patients following severe injuries.

The drugs are calcium and vasopressin. According to doctors at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), vasopressin also helps platelets work better, which can help blood clots form more quickly.

“This can both help stop bleeding and also reduce the need for blood transfusions,” said Dr. Joe Doherty, an assistant professor of emergency medicine.

The CAlcium and VAsopressin following Injury Early Resuscitation Trial , CAVALIER for short, will be conducted at 15 trauma centers across the country, including UMMC. The study aims to enroll 1,050 people aged 18 to 90. Patients who have traumatic injuries with loss of blood may be enrolled by participating emergency medical personnel during their transportation to the hospital, or after arrival to UMMC.

“What we’d like to learn from this study is whether giving these life-saving medications sooner after injury can help more patients survive,” said Dr. Matthew Kutcher, co-investigator of the UMMC study site.

This study will look at treatment for patients who have a traumatic injury and have lost a lot of blood.

According to officials, UMMC is the state’s sole Level I Trauma Center and was chosen for the study because of its experience in trauma care, and specifically its ability to manage severe bleeding.

Community meetings and visits with small and large hospitals for feedback will be planned as the year goes on, with the trial at UMMC expected to be activated by fall.

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