Dr. Spinella is a well-established clinical trialist, who has been funded by the US Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health for trials examining RBC storage age, tranexamic acid, and cold-stored platelets. He has published over 292 manuscripts and 22 chapters and is the editor for a textbook on the topic of trauma resuscitation. Dr. Spinella has also participated in, organized research symposia for, or provided external review of research programs for the FDA, NIH, DoD, Homeland Security, and the Department of Health and Human Services. He has also participated on a committee for the National Academy of Sciences to develop recommendations for a national trauma system in the US.

Dr. Spinella co-founded the THOR Network and has been its Co-Director since 2011. The THOR network has hosted training and educational programs in over 12 countries in 4 continents. The THOR Network has also performed ground breaking research related to whole blood and platelet transfusion for traumatic bleeding.