Center for Sepsis Epidemiology and Prevention Studies (SEPSIS)
Mission
Our mission is to advance sepsis care and prevention through rigorous clinical and epidemiological research that informs clinical practice, public health strategy, and healthcare policy.
Rationale
Sepsis, the syndrome of life-threatening organ dysfunction that arises from a dysregulated host response to infection, is a leading cause of death, disability, and costs. Each year in the United States, sepsis affects over 1.7 million adults and contributes to more than 350,000 deaths. Globally, the figures are even more alarming: 49 million cases and 11 million deaths annually, equating to one in five deaths worldwide. The economic and emotional toll is staggering, with survivors commonly facing long-term health challenges.
Growing recognition of the immense burden of sepsis has catalyzed local, national, and global initiatives to improve sepsis care, but outcomes remain poor. Progress in combating sepsis has been hindered by gaps in epidemiologic surveillance, challenges in accurate and timely diagnosis, heterogeneity in clinical presentations, uncertainties about optimal prevention and treatment strategies, and limited public awareness. The SEPSIS Center represents an important step forward towards addressing these challenges and accelerating solutions.
About the SEPSIS Center
The Center for Sepsis Epidemiology and Prevention Studies (SEPSIS) at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute is dedicated to improving sepsis outcomes through innovative and impactful research. Our center unites Harvard Medical School-appointed faculty with expertise in infectious diseases, critical care, healthcare epidemiology, biostatistics, and data science and includes internationally recognized leaders in sepsis surveillance, prevention, and policy.
By leveraging robust partnerships with local and national healthcare delivery systems, public health agencies, and other leading academic institutions -- as well as unparalleled access to large electronic health record datasets -- we are uniquely positioned to identify key risk factors, develop innovative surveillance methods and quality metrics, and design effective strategies to combat this life-threatening condition.