Establishing a Virtual Clinical Research Laboratory: The Consortium for Advancement Through Research and Education in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (CARE) Experience.

[OBJECTIVE] Conducting research in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) is challenging, particularly for those without PRS resources or mentorship opportunities locally. Virtual research laboratories (VRLs) facilitate cross-institution collaboration, involving individuals at all levels of training. In this study, we describe our approach in establishing a PRS-specific VRL, called the Consortium for Advancement through Research and Education (CARE).

[METHODS] A PRS VRL was established in 2020. Key pillars in cultivating the VRL included the following: support for developing innovative research questions, projects accommodating remote contributions, low threshold for membership, abundant resource sharing, and advancing diversity within the field. Tenets were reinforced by implementing requirements for research output, curating diverse and multi-institutional research teams, routinely hosting guest speakers, and providing mentorship. Observations and productivity were recorded since inception.

[RESULTS] From 2020 to 2024, our VRL has grown to include over 180 medical and undergraduate students, residents, and attending physicians, representing 83 institutions. We have produced 85 manuscripts in 21 journals and, within the last year, over 80 presentations across 22 different conferences. Proportions of contributing URM and women members exceeded national averages within the field. All projects included multi-institutional collaboration.

[CONCLUSIONS] Our VRL has facilitated opportunities for PRS research by leveraging cross-institutional collaborations and crowdsourcing research skills and tools. This VRL has also mitigated existing disparities in networking and educational opportunities for underrepresented students or those without a home PRS program. VRLs are efficient, easy-to-access, and cost-effective platforms for research contribution. Although this VRL specifically focuses on PRS, the general framework and goals are applicable across all medical subspecialties.