Eduard Vasilevskis

January 8, 2026: Study Design Paper Published for BEST-ICU

Posted on by Damon Seils
Headshots of Dr. Michele Balas and Dr. Eduard Vasilevskis
Dr. Michele Balas and Dr. Eduard Vasilevskis, principal investigators for BEST-ICU

The study design paper for BEST-ICU has been published online in Trials. Congratulations to the study team on reaching this important milestone for all NIH Collaboratory Trials!

The BEST-ICU trial is evaluating 2 strategies grounded in behavioral economics theory and implementation science to increase adoption of the ABCDEF bundle in the intensive care unit and improve care for critically ill adults across a variety of healthcare systems. The ABCDEF bundle is a multicomponent, evidence-based intervention to improve team-based care.

The study is being led by Eduard Vasilevskis of the University of Wisconsin and Michele Balas of the University of Nebraska and is supported by a grant award from the National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Read the full study design paper.

February 26, 2025: BEST-ICU Trial to Be Featured in This Week’s PCT Grand Rounds

Posted on by Damon Seils
Headshots of Dr. Michele Balas and Dr. Eduard Vasilevskis
Dr. Michele Balas and Dr. Eduard Vasilevskis, principal investigators of BEST-ICU

In this Friday’s PCT Grand Rounds, Michele Balas and Ed Vasilevskis will present “Behavioral Economic and Staffing Strategies To Increase Adoption of the ABCDEF Bundle in the Intensive Care Unit (BEST-ICU): Protocol, Challenges, and Major Updates.”

The Grand Rounds session will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 1:00 pm eastern.

BEST-ICU, an NIH Collaboratory Trial supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is evaluating 2 strategies grounded in behavioral economics theory and implementation science to increase ABCDEF bundle adoption in the intensive care unit and improve care for critically ill adults across a variety of healthcare systems. The ABCDEF bundle is a multicomponent, evidence-based intervention to improve team-based care. Learn more about BEST-ICU.

Balas is the Dorothy Hodges Olson Distinguished Professor of Nursing and the associate dean of research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing. Vasilevskis is a professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Join the online meeting.