Wolf Creek XVIII Part 5: cardiac arrest survivorship science

The 50th Anniversary Wolf Creek XVIII Conference was hosted by the Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, on June 19-21, 2025. Cardiac Arrest Survivorship Science was one topic of focused presentation and discussion by invited panelists and conference participants made up of international academic and industry scientists, as well as thought leaders in the field of cardiac arrest resuscitation. The Survivorship Panel highlighted innovative work that challenges current paradigms surrounding medication use in the post–cardiac arrest period to support recovery. This was followed by a critical examination of how outcomes after cardiac arrest are measured, and a forward-looking discussion of the role of artificial intelligence and other digital health tools in longitudinal data collection and the optimization of survivorship research. Importantly, these emerging concepts were anchored in the lived experience of a cardiac arrest survivor, illustrating their potential to meaningfully improve an often complex and prolonged recovery trajectory. In summary, the panel called for a paradigm shift in survivorship research and care, i.e., from a narrow focus on survival metrics to a holistic, comprehensive framework that prioritizes long-term function, quality of life, and meaningful societal participation. Achieving this vision will require interdisciplinary collaboration, strategic investment in robust outcome measurement tools, and the development of precision. patient- centered models of care.