dedicated to finding New solutions for sepsis

The UF Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center (SCIRC) is the first of its kind in the nation and studies long-term outcomes in patients treated for sepsis in the UF Health Shands Hospital’s surgical and trauma intensive care units. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence, the center aims to address some of the most pressing challenges facing society. We are a diverse team of researchers and scholars who work tirelessly to push the boundaries of knowledge and drive positive change. Our goals are to develop clinical solutions for sepsis, as well as illnesses that stem from it and their enduring effects.

learn about our ongoing projects

 See our newest publication:

1) An Enteric Bacterial Infection Triggers Neuroinflammation and Neurobehavioral Impairment in 3xTg-AD Transgenic Mice

Gwoncheol Park ^1 2, Saurabh Kadyan ^1 2, Nathaniel Hochuli ^1 2, Gloria Salazar ², Orlando Laitano ³, Paramita Chakrabarty ⁴, Philip A Efron ⁵, M Ammar Zafar ⁶, Aaron Wilber ⁷, Ravinder Nagpal 2024 Sep 10

2) Proteomic Profiling of Hindlimb Skeletal Muscle Disuse in a Murine Model of Sepsis.

Boeno, Franccesco P. PhD1; Roesch, Luiz Fernando W. PhD2; Efron, Philip A. MD3; Laitano, Orlando PhD.  August 2024.

3) Development and optimization of a diluted whole blood ELISpot assay to test immune function.

Ricardo F. Ungaro ^a, Julie Xu ^b, Tamara A. Kucaba ^b, Mahil Rao ^c, Christian B. Bergmann ^d, Scott C. Brakenridge ^e, Philip A. Efron ^a, Michael D. Goodman ^f, Robert W. Gould ^g, Richard S. Hotchkiss ^h, Muxuan Liang ⁱ, Monty B. Mazer ^j, Patrick W. McGonagill ^k, Lyle L. Moldawer ^a, Kenneth E. Remy ^j, Isaiah R. Turnbull ^hl, Charles C. Caldwell ^f, Vladimir P. Badovinac ^m, Thomas S. Griffith. Available online 13 August 2024

4) Severe trauma leads to sustained muscle loss, induced frailty, and distinct temporal changes in myokine and chemokine profiles of older patients

Valerie E Polcz  1 , Evan L Barrios  2 , Michael C Cox  2 , Ivanna Rocha  2 , Muxuan Liang  3 , Russell B Hawkins  2 , Dijoia Darden  2 , Ricardo Ungaro  2 , Marvin Dirain  2 , Robert Mankowski  4 , Alicia M Mohr  2 , Frederick A Moore  2 , Lyle L Moldawer  2 , Philip A Efron  2 , Scott C Brakenridge  5 , Tyler J Loftus  6PMID: 39179433  DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2024.07.031

5) Multimodal Nuclear Factor-Erythroid-2-Related Factor (NRF2) Therapy in the Context of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Inhibition Reprograms the Acute Systemic and Pulmonary Immune Response after Combined Burn and Inhalation Injury

Matthew D Alves  1 , Ryan A Clark  2 , Denise A Hernandez  1 , Madelyn P Bucci  3 , Duo Chen  1 , Philip A Efron  1 , Shannon M Wallet  3 , Ben G Keselowsky  2 , Robert Maile

6) Temporal Changes in Innate and Adaptive Immunity During Sepsis as Determined by ELISpot.

Unsinger J, Osborne D, Walton AH, Han E, Sheets L, Mazer MB, Remy KE, Griffith TS, Rao M, Badovinac VP, Brackenridge SC, Turnbull I, Efron PA, Moldawer LL, Caldwell CC, Hotchkiss RS.Shock. 2024 May 3. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000002377. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38754032

7) Transcriptomic Differences in Peripheral Monocyte Populations in Septic Patients Based on Outcome.

Barrios EL, Rincon JC, Willis M, Polcz VE, Leary J, Darden DB, Balch JA, Larson SD, Loftus TJ, Mohr AM, Wallet S, Brusko MA, Balzano-Nogueira L, Cai G, Sharma A, Upchurch GR Jr, Kladde MP, Mathews CE, Maile R, Moldawer LL, Bacher R, Efron PA.Shock. 2024 May 2. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000002379. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38713581