The GAinS investigators: application of an integrated immune -omic approach in sepsis

Research summary

This study aims to understand the molecular pathophysiology of sepsis in order to improve patient care. Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Currently we do not understand why only a minority of patients develop this extreme response to infection, why there is variability in the sepsis response and how best to identify specific sepsis patients who will benefit from particular treatments. This is important as in the UK, sepsis is a major public health burden, responsible for 1 in 20 deaths in England with few effective treatments. Mortality remains higher than 25-30% and up to 40-50% in severe cases. Nearly a third of UK ICU admissions are for patients with sepsis, where it is the most common cause of death. To better understand sepsis biology and the individual sepsis response, we propose to recruit up to 1100 adult patients admitted to UK hospitals (including 300 control patients), especially intensive care units, for a prospective non-interventional observational study. Samples will include blood, urine, faeces, respiratory specimens. We will apply the most current immunological and functional genomic technologies to understand the nature of the sepsis response and its variability. The study will initially be run at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, but other centres will then be included to increase patient recruitment with the study to run over 5 years. Processing of biological material will primarily be done at the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics and Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine in Oxford.

Principal Investigator

Dr Stuart McKechnie

Contact us

Email: sally.beer@ouh.nhs.uk

IRAS number

260007