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Penn State Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center (SCIRC)

  • The Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center’s (SCIRC) mission is to promote multidisciplinary research and education in critical care medicine, aiming to alleviate the healthcare burden caused by critical illness. To accomplish this, the following goals have been set:

    1. Expand institutional biobanks by incorporating datasets and research specimens from adult and pediatric patients with sepsis.
    2. Utilize immunologic assays and machine learning techniques to investigate different subtypes of sepsis.
    3. Develop translational rodent models that are relevant to the study of critical illness.
    4. Provide resources to educate clinicians, trainees and patients about septic illness.

    These goals will be achieved by harnessing the collective expertise of the center’s core members. The team consists of both basic scientists who specialize in infection and sepsis research, as well as clinician scientists who care for pediatric and adult sepsis patients while conducting related investigations. The vision for the center is to serve as a central hub that unites investigators, both within and beyond Penn State, in their pursuit of research aimed at advancing the care provided to critically ill patients.

  • The center’s mission aligns with the Penn State College of Medicine Strategic Plan in the following ways:

    1. Translational Science:  The center has a team of highly skilled and extramurally funded investigators who specialize in sepsis research. Clinicians, experienced in caring for critically ill patients, contribute to the identification and addressing of relevant research questions. Additionally, the team possesses advanced immunologic tools and equipment, along with the expertise to utilize them effectively, enabling cutting-edge scientific research.
    2. Artificial Intelligence: Core members have expertise in bioinformatics and are proficient in using computational tools for the analysis of large datasets. Several ongoing research projects within the center leverage machine learning tools to manipulate and analyze complex data, such as clinical information obtained from critically ill patients.
    3. Health Systems Science: The SCIRC facilitates collaboration among investigators from diverse scientific and clinical disciplines. It serves as an active forum for discussing research initiatives and offers access to decades of cumulative research expertise for academic investigators interested in sepsis or critical illness research. This collaboration helps inform the design and execution of research projects
    4. Culture: The SCIRC fosters a culture of multidisciplinary collaboration, both internally and through research partnerships with external institutions. Regular internal and external reviews of the SCIRC ensures accountability in research practices. Additionally, the educational mission raises institutional awareness of sepsis and promotes evidence-based clinical management strategies.

    By aligning with the Penn State College of Medicine Strategic Plan in these key areas, the SCIRC contributes to the advancement of translational science, leverages artificial intelligence for data analysis, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, and cultivates a culture of accountability and evidence-based practices.

The Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center’s (SCIRC) mission is to promote multidisciplinary research and education in critical care medicine, aiming to alleviate the healthcare burden caused by critical illness. To accomplish this, the following goals have been set:

  1. Expand institutional biobanks by incorporating datasets and research specimens from adult and pediatric patients with sepsis.
  2. Utilize immunologic assays and machine learning techniques to investigate different subtypes of sepsis.
  3. Develop translational rodent models that are relevant to the study of critical illness.
  4. Provide resources to educate clinicians, trainees and patients about septic illness.

These goals will be achieved by harnessing the collective expertise of the center’s core members. The team consists of both basic scientists who specialize in infection and sepsis research, as well as clinician scientists who care for pediatric and adult sepsis patients while conducting related investigations. The vision for the center is to serve as a central hub that unites investigators, both within and beyond Penn State, in their pursuit of research aimed at advancing the care provided to critically ill patients.

The center’s mission aligns with the Penn State College of Medicine Strategic Plan in the following ways:

  1. Translational Science:  The center has a team of highly skilled and extramurally funded investigators who specialize in sepsis research. Clinicians, experienced in caring for critically ill patients, contribute to the identification and addressing of relevant research questions. Additionally, the team possesses advanced immunologic tools and equipment, along with the expertise to utilize them effectively, enabling cutting-edge scientific research.
  2. Artificial Intelligence: Core members have expertise in bioinformatics and are proficient in using computational tools for the analysis of large datasets. Several ongoing research projects within the center leverage machine learning tools to manipulate and analyze complex data, such as clinical information obtained from critically ill patients.
  3. Health Systems Science: The SCIRC facilitates collaboration among investigators from diverse scientific and clinical disciplines. It serves as an active forum for discussing research initiatives and offers access to decades of cumulative research expertise for academic investigators interested in sepsis or critical illness research. This collaboration helps inform the design and execution of research projects
  4. Culture: The SCIRC fosters a culture of multidisciplinary collaboration, both internally and through research partnerships with external institutions. Regular internal and external reviews of the SCIRC ensures accountability in research practices. Additionally, the educational mission raises institutional awareness of sepsis and promotes evidence-based clinical management strategies.

By aligning with the Penn State College of Medicine Strategic Plan in these key areas, the SCIRC contributes to the advancement of translational science, leverages artificial intelligence for data analysis, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, and cultivates a culture of accountability and evidence-based practices.

The background image is Penn State College of Medicine crescent blended with dark blue overlay

Learn More about the Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center

  • Administratively based in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine, the SCIRC welcomes participation by Penn State faculty members, trainees and students interested in research on sepsis and critical illness. It is not involved in the clinical care of septic or critically ill patients within the Penn State Health system, nor can it provide medical advice related to patient care.

    The center offers:

    • Access to a network of Penn State clinician and scientist investigators who are actively involved in sepsis and critical illness research
    • Access to expertise in the recruitment of critically ill patients in the region for research studies
    • Opportunities for interdisciplinary research collaboration and mentoring
    • Access to de-identified clinical datasets, as well as national databases from septic and critically ill patients
    • Additional resources for developing and conducting research projects in sepsis and critical illness

  • Directors and Staff

  • Unique Research

    The SCIRC research is focused on translating basic science techniques from the bench to the bedside. To this end, the laboratory uses antibody-based proteomics to identify new protein biomarkers of sepsis using magnetic bead-based assays (MagPix). Furthermore, the team is spearheading the use of an automated immunoassay system (ELLA) to improve biomarker measurement turnaround times through on-site rapid analysis. This is done by pairing the ELLA system to functional immune assays of whole blood for rapid immune profiling. Lastly, through the use of machine learning the team is developing computational models to predict the clinical trajectory of adult and pediatric patients with sepsis.

  • Core Members

    Core Members can be contacted by clicking the “Contact Expert” link at the top of their researcher profile.

    Process for Adding New Members

    Written application, listing prior contributions to the fields of sepsis and/or critical care medicine, is submitted for independent review to one or more of the core members. One or more of these members will then present the application at the next scheduled, quarterly meeting. A joint decision regarding candidacy for membership will be made by core members and directors at the quarterly meeting. Director and associate directors will make any final determinations regarding admission of new members to the group.

  • Donate

    The Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center welcomes donations in support of its mission.

    Donate securely online here

    When making a donation:

    • Designate the donation amount in the “Gift Information” area.
    • For “I would like my gift to benefit,” select “A specific area or multiple areas (please select to see list).” A new window will open.
    • Use the scroll bar to see the “Other” option in this section, and check the option for “Support Other Funds at Penn State (specify in Other box)”.
    • Click the “Continue” button.
    • In the comments box, type Penn State Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center.
    • Scroll down the page to “Your Information” and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the donation process.

  • Contact the Center

    Email: scirc@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
    Phone: 717-531-0003, ext. 5440

    Mailing address:
    Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center
    Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
    Penn State College of Medicine
    500 University Drive, C2864
    Hershey, PA 17033

  • Academic Collaboration

    The multidisciplinary research team, composed of clinician scientists from several departments, has formed an academic collaboration dedicated to the in-depth study of sepsis. Leveraging expertise from fields including immunology, microbiology, biomedical engineering, data science and machine learning, the team aimsto unravel the complex mechanisms of sepsis initiation, progression, and resolution, with the intent to directly impact the current sepsis management framework by providing insights that can facilitate early detection and personalized treatments.

    To achieve these ambitious objectives, collaborative efforts with other tertiary care academic institutions are encouraged. The sharing of clinical samples and data between biorepositories housed at various institutions is crucial for forming patient cohorts of adequate size to test clinical research hypotheses. Mutually beneficial, collaborative inquiries from investigators at such centers are welcomed.

    Industry Collaboration

    As academic clinician scientists, the center’s team recognizes that collaboration between academic medicine and industry is a critical, yet delicate balance. On one hand, such synergies drive innovation in health care, expediting the translation of basic research into tangible therapies. On the other hand, this collaboration isn’t devoid of potential conflicts of interest. The team believes that in order to bring about a shift in sepsis care, they will need to embrace this intricate dance of collaboration, where patient welfare remains the overarching priority.

    The team appreciates that any prospective industry partner will need to consider the financial aspects thoroughly before entering a joint enterprise. It is the team’s collective mission to improve patient outcomes and further scientific discovery, which is an endeavor that requires not just intellectual resources but also monetary support. Any and all funding will be directed towards designing robust protocols, ensuring patient safety, collecting and analyzing data, and disseminating findings in a way that is beneficial to all parties involved. The team believes that the return on this investment, particularly in the form of improved patient outcomes, will be invaluable and far-reaching.

Administratively based in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine, the SCIRC welcomes participation by Penn State faculty members, trainees and students interested in research on sepsis and critical illness. It is not involved in the clinical care of septic or critically ill patients within the Penn State Health system, nor can it provide medical advice related to patient care.

The center offers:

  • Access to a network of Penn State clinician and scientist investigators who are actively involved in sepsis and critical illness research
  • Access to expertise in the recruitment of critically ill patients in the region for research studies
  • Opportunities for interdisciplinary research collaboration and mentoring
  • Access to de-identified clinical datasets, as well as national databases from septic and critically ill patients
  • Additional resources for developing and conducting research projects in sepsis and critical illness

Directors and Staff

Unique Research

The SCIRC research is focused on translating basic science techniques from the bench to the bedside. To this end, the laboratory uses antibody-based proteomics to identify new protein biomarkers of sepsis using magnetic bead-based assays (MagPix). Furthermore, the team is spearheading the use of an automated immunoassay system (ELLA) to improve biomarker measurement turnaround times through on-site rapid analysis. This is done by pairing the ELLA system to functional immune assays of whole blood for rapid immune profiling. Lastly, through the use of machine learning the team is developing computational models to predict the clinical trajectory of adult and pediatric patients with sepsis.

Core Members

Core Members can be contacted by clicking the “Contact Expert” link at the top of their researcher profile.

Process for Adding New Members

Written application, listing prior contributions to the fields of sepsis and/or critical care medicine, is submitted for independent review to one or more of the core members. One or more of these members will then present the application at the next scheduled, quarterly meeting. A joint decision regarding candidacy for membership will be made by core members and directors at the quarterly meeting. Director and associate directors will make any final determinations regarding admission of new members to the group.

Donate

The Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center welcomes donations in support of its mission.

Donate securely online here

When making a donation:

  • Designate the donation amount in the “Gift Information” area.
  • For “I would like my gift to benefit,” select “A specific area or multiple areas (please select to see list).” A new window will open.
  • Use the scroll bar to see the “Other” option in this section, and check the option for “Support Other Funds at Penn State (specify in Other box)”.
  • Click the “Continue” button.
  • In the comments box, type Penn State Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center.
  • Scroll down the page to “Your Information” and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the donation process.

Contact the Center

Email: scirc@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Phone: 717-531-0003, ext. 5440

Mailing address:
Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center
Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine
500 University Drive, C2864
Hershey, PA 17033

Academic Collaboration

The multidisciplinary research team, composed of clinician scientists from several departments, has formed an academic collaboration dedicated to the in-depth study of sepsis. Leveraging expertise from fields including immunology, microbiology, biomedical engineering, data science and machine learning, the team aimsto unravel the complex mechanisms of sepsis initiation, progression, and resolution, with the intent to directly impact the current sepsis management framework by providing insights that can facilitate early detection and personalized treatments.

To achieve these ambitious objectives, collaborative efforts with other tertiary care academic institutions are encouraged. The sharing of clinical samples and data between biorepositories housed at various institutions is crucial for forming patient cohorts of adequate size to test clinical research hypotheses. Mutually beneficial, collaborative inquiries from investigators at such centers are welcomed.

Industry Collaboration

As academic clinician scientists, the center’s team recognizes that collaboration between academic medicine and industry is a critical, yet delicate balance. On one hand, such synergies drive innovation in health care, expediting the translation of basic research into tangible therapies. On the other hand, this collaboration isn’t devoid of potential conflicts of interest. The team believes that in order to bring about a shift in sepsis care, they will need to embrace this intricate dance of collaboration, where patient welfare remains the overarching priority.

The team appreciates that any prospective industry partner will need to consider the financial aspects thoroughly before entering a joint enterprise. It is the team’s collective mission to improve patient outcomes and further scientific discovery, which is an endeavor that requires not just intellectual resources but also monetary support. Any and all funding will be directed towards designing robust protocols, ensuring patient safety, collecting and analyzing data, and disseminating findings in a way that is beneficial to all parties involved. The team believes that the return on this investment, particularly in the form of improved patient outcomes, will be invaluable and far-reaching.