These concepts are the rationale of the Project CRASH, R01AR056328, “Genetic Predictors of Acute and Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain after Motor Vehicle Collision.” Methods/Design Study Sites The CRASH study is a prospective multicenter observational cohort study of patients experiencing minor MVC. Study participants are enrolled at research network ED sites and receive initial interview evaluation at the time of the ED visit. Study participant follow-up assessments are performed at 6 weeks, 6 months, and one year. The study research network (“TRYUMPH Research Network”) includes Baystate Medical

Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, North Shore University Hospital, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Shands Jacksonville Hospital, Spectrum Health Butterworth Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, and click here William Beaumont Hospital (2 ED sites). All eight EDs are located in states with “no fault” insurance laws that restrict the right to seek recovery from other parties through the civil-justice system. The study is

restricted to states with no-fault accident laws to minimize the likelihood of legal action following MVC, which is a potential confounding factor influencing patient outcome [16]. The data coordinating center for the study is located at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Inclusion Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Criteria Patients age 18 to 65 who present to the ED within 24 hours after minor MVC and who are unlikely to require admission are screened for eligibility. Patients with injuries likely to require hospitalization, fractures (other than

Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical small bone fractures), major lacerations (defined as a laceration more than 20 cm in length or more than four lacerations requiring sutures), intracranial injury, or spinal injury (defined as vertebral fracture Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical or dislocation, or new neurologic deficit) are excluded. Patients who are deemed eligible but subsequently admitted overnight to the hospital are excluded. Patients who go to an ED observation area for a brief period (e.g. “6 hour rule out”) remain eligible. Patients are excluded if they are prisoners, Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase pregnant, not alert and oriented, or unable to read and understand English. Patients are also excluded if they take β-receptor antagonist or if they take opioids on a daily basis above a total daily dose of 20 mg of oxycodone or equivalent. In addition, due to the effects of ethnicity on genetic risk factor assessment (population stratification bias [17] that may require different ethnicities to be analyzed separately) and budget restrictions limiting sample size, enrollment is limited to European Americans. After assessment for eligibility, signed informed consent is obtained from all patients enrolled in the study.