Saving lives by stepping up Africa's response to sepsis

Saving lives by stepping up Africa's response to sepsis

Sub-Saharan African ConsorTium for the Advancement of Innovative Research and Care in SepsisSub-Saharan African ConsorTium for the
Advancement of Innovative Research
and Care in Sepsis
Pictures & Impressions
Pictures & Impressions
Sub-Saharan African ConsorTium for the Advancement of Innovative Research and Care in Sepsis
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Sepsis

is life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.

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13.7 million

Number of people worldwide whose cause of death was sepsis in 2019.

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30% of deaths
from sepsis

Sub-Saharan Africa bears the greatest burden of sepsis worldwide.

Director:
Dr. Nathan Kenya-Mugisha
Walimu, Kampala, Uganda

Co-Directors:
Professor Dr. Konrad Reinhart
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
Professor Dr. Torsten Feldt
Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany

Chief Scientific Officer (CSO):
Dr. Shevin Jacob
Walimu, Kampala, Uganda

Deputy CSO:

Dr. Tafese Tufa
Arsi University, Asella, Ethiopia

Our Program

With eight African and two German partner institutions, STAIRS aims to save lives through innovative sepsis research in sub-Saharan Africa. We leverage our existing networks and seek new partners to …

  • address vital knowledge gaps in sepsis epidemiology, diagnosis and care quality
  • strengthen research capacity
  • translate emerging evidence to policy

Our Team


1
Sierra Leone
Njala University, Bo

2
Ghana
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi

3
Nigeria
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu

4
Ethiopia
Arsi University, Asella

5
Uganda
Walimu, Kampala

6
Uganda
Makerere University - Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala

7
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu

8
Mozambique
Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Maputo

9
Germany
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin

10
Germany
University Hospital of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf

Our Areas of Work

High-quality research in Sub-Saharan Africa - Icon
High-quality research in Sub-Saharan Africa
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High-quality research in Sub-Saharan Africa
The research initiative encompasses five tasks aimed at enhancing the understanding of and response to sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa. STAIRS will:

Assess the burden of sepsis in the community.

Establish a multinational patient cohort of adults and children.

Refine and evaluate the role of an electronic quality improvement mobile application on in-hospital sepsis care.

Evaluate a novel comprehensive sepsis panel.

Evaluate the role of post-discharge strategies on survival.

Strengthening capacity for sepsis research and care - Icon
Strengthening capacity for sepsis research and care
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Strengthening capacity for sepsis research and care
Stairs will:

Sponsor early career researchers.

Build technical and institutional research capacity, including for clinical trials on sepsis.

Explore the use of telemedicine to improve clinical care.

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Networking inside and outside the consortium
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Networking inside and outside the consortium
STAIRS will:

Establish a robust sepsis research network across sub-Saharan Africa.

Strengthen sepsis programs and initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa.

Enable engagement between industry partners and policymakers.

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Policy engagement and research transfer
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Policy engagement and research transfer
STAIRS will:   

Align with the WHO resolution “Improving the prevention, diagnosis and clinical management of sepsis”.

Translate evidence to sepsis-relevant policies across the network.

Approach stakeholder engagement across the network holistically and inclusively.


Our Partners

To increase impact, STAIRS will collaborate with external organizations, institutions and industry partners.

Recent Activities

News
Event

EIDM Training in Ethiopia, July 1-5, 2024

Upwards and onwards! The STAIRS team in Ethiopia invited our partners from AFIDEP to the beautiful Rift Valley to conduct the evidence-informed decision training in July. The team broug...
Aug 07, 2024

EIDM Training in Ethiopia, July 1-5, 2024

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Upwards and onwards! The STAIRS team in Ethiopia invited our partners from AFIDEP to the beautiful Rift Valley to conduct the evidence-informed decision training in July. The team brought together a group of 19 stakeholders to strengthen capacity for translating sepsis research findings into policy in Ethiopia.

News
Event

EIDM Training in Nigeria, June 2024

Our STAIRS team in Nigeria was the next team to undergo evidence-informed decision training in June, facilitated by AFIDEP. The UNTH team acquired skills on evidence synthesis and stake...
Aug 07, 2024

EIDM Training in Nigeria, June 2024

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Our STAIRS team in Nigeria was the next team to undergo evidence-informed decision training in June, facilitated by AFIDEP. The UNTH team acquired skills on evidence synthesis and stakeholder engagement to optimize the translation of research outputs to policy in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest country by population.

News
Event

EIDM Training in Sierra Leone, June 2024

Taking the next step: in June, the STAIRS Sierra Leone team underwent evidence-informed decision training hosted by Njala University. Facilitated by AFIDEP, EIDM trainings help to maxim...
Aug 07, 2024

EIDM Training in Sierra Leone, June 2024

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Taking the next step: in June, the STAIRS Sierra Leone team underwent evidence-informed decision training hosted by Njala University. Facilitated by AFIDEP, EIDM trainings help to maximise key stakeholder engagement on advancements expected in sepsis research in Africa over the coming years.

News
Event

EIDM Training in Mozambique, May 2024

And we keep climbing. In May, also the STAIRS Mozambique team underwent evidence-informed decision training in Maputo. Facilitated by AFIDEP, EIDM trainings help to ensure optimal polic...
Jul 04, 2024

EIDM Training in Mozambique, May 2024

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And we keep climbing. In May, also the STAIRS Mozambique team underwent evidence-informed decision training in Maputo. Facilitated by AFIDEP, EIDM trainings help to ensure optimal policy exchange and research transfer of evidence generated by STAIRS across the continent.

News
Event

Telemedicine Workshop in Berlin May 13-17, 2024

What a team! The workshop on telemedicine in Berlin was a big success thanks to our partner site champions and the invaluable support of AFEM’s leadership. STAIRS will evaluate th...
Jul 03, 2024

Telemedicine Workshop in Berlin May 13-17, 2024

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What a team! The workshop on telemedicine in Berlin was a big success thanks to our partner site champions and the invaluable support of AFEM’s leadership. STAIRS will evaluate the implementation of telemedicine to enhance capacity and improve quality of care for critically ill sepsis patients in Sub-Saharan Africa.

News
Event

EIDM training in Uganda on May 2nd, 2024

The first training on evidence-informed decision making (EIDM) was conducted by AFIDEP with the Walimu Team in Uganda. This year, EIDM training will be conducted across all sites of the...
Jul 01, 2024

EIDM training in Uganda on May 2nd, 2024

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The first training on evidence-informed decision making (EIDM) was conducted by AFIDEP with the Walimu Team in Uganda. This year, EIDM training will be conducted across all sites of the network to optmize policy exchange and maximise the network’s research impact.

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