The US Critical Illness and Injury Trials Group is funded to engage the relevant scientific communities and federal agencies to jointly advocate for clinical research. An inclusive, nationwide network of experts has been created to establish national priorities and pursue a strategic plan in conjunction with professional societies and existing research networks. Investigator-initiated clinical proposals will be presented and discussed at the inaugural National Institutes of Health meeting to promote collaboration and establish working groups to develop projects and core resources. Future US Critical Illness and Injury Trials Group meetings will convene triannually, providing a venue to gauge progress on strategic deliverables, foster development of the clinical projects, discuss education and training in clinical trial design, and address the ethical, legal, and social implications of research in the critically ill or injured patients.