Grant: Foundation Grant

Severe infection is the leading cause of death worldwide. Even in high income countries, 3 of the top 10 World Health Organization causes of death involve severe infection, costing $4 billion/year in Canada; making it the most expensive acute condition to treat in the entire Canadian healthcare system. We found that even in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survivors of severe infection, life span is decreased by 14 years! No effective treatments have been developed since the discovery of antibiotics almost 100 years ago. My goal is to improve the health of patients with severe infection by identifying and understanding underlying causes (genes and molecules) and translating this knowledge into novel therapy. My research program builds on our biobank and database of exquisitely characterized severe infection patients; worldwide collaboration which expands this biobank and database into the largest in the world (>11,000 severe infection patients) uniquely allowing deep exploration and discovery of key genes and molecules that impact outcomes of severe infections. Based on this new knowledge we will then develop novel therapeutic strategies for severe infection by working with the Centre for Drug Research and Development. This program will identify new genes and molecules that impact severe infection outcomes. Translation of this knowledge into novel therapies will improve health outcomes by reducing mortality due to severe infections and save millions in health care costs.