Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Sepsis is when the immune system has an overwhelming response to an infection, leading to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Although improvements in healthcare have reduced the number of people dying in hospitals from sepsis, many survivors experience post-sepsis syndrome (PSS). PSS is characterized by decreased cognitive function and an increased risk of disability, infections, and death. These long-term effects, particularly increased risk of infection, could be due to changes in how the immune system functions through epigenetics. Epigenetics are external modifications to DNA that can turn genes ""on"" and ""off,"" resulting in altered cell function. We hypothesize that decreased function of the immune system and epigenetic changes in immune cell populations result in an increased risk for secondary infections. To investigate this hypothesis, we propose examining immune cell function and epigenetic changes in patients who have survived sepsis. The goal is to study the feasibility and patient acceptance of collecting data on their health status after hospital discharge. Thirty post-septic patients will be recruited, and a blood sample will be collected from each individual at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after being discharged from the hospital. The blood samples will be used to measure different immune cells and changes in patient epigenetics, indicating whether their body will respond appropriately to infection. Patients with PSS have significant health issues, but routine follow-up after hospital discharge is not standard. This project will help determine the healthcare system's ability to monitor patients with PSS. It will also be used to identify new ways to treat individuals with PSS and subsequently reduce the long-term effects of sepsis.