To our fellow Consortium members,

As we take a moment to reflect on all that we have achieved together, creating what is widely regarded as the world’s largest and most in-depth COVID-19 ICU database, we wish to acknowledge the relentless support and dedication you have shown.

What began as a response to the urgent need for data to help support ICU clinicians quickly evolved into a global alliance of healthcare professionals and researchers, committed to fostering positive change in what is often a different landscape in which to do so. With over 440 collaborating sites spanning 64 countries, we have created a unified network, redefining the standards of international research collaborations.

In the COVID Critical Dashboard, successfully co-developed with Aridhia Informatics, we have built a legacy piece that will support the critical care community for years to come. In the unfortunately very likely circumstance of another pandemic, this infrastructure is ready to be utilised and deployed rapidly, just as we have proven we can do together.

We echo Professor John Fraser in extending our gratitude to the dedicated members of our  Steering Committee, led by the inimitable Professor Robert Bartlett, the Founder of ELSO, and to our colleagues at the Critical Care Research Group for their tireless administration support.

But above all, we stand in admiration of the many doctors, nurses, and support staff who, while caring for sick and dying patients, understood the importance of gathering data, and doing so quickly. You have set the standard for how all disciplines should rally in times of crisis and we are humbly very proud to have done this with you. 

We are filled with hope and optimism for the enduring legacy that COVID Critical will leave, one that will further our understanding of critical illness and support patients for generations to come.

To every single member of this far-reaching Consortium - thank you.

Sincerely,

Associate Professor Gianluigi Li Bassi