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 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

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Unveiling the Science Behind Sepsis

Listen: “Unveiling the Science Behind Sepsis” podcast episode https://support.doctorpodcasting.com/client/audio-player/ufhealth/item/63094-unveiling-the-science-behind-sepsis?s=Detail

Dr. Nicole Iovine and Dr. Philip Efron discuss Sepsis, including medical terminology, pathophysiology, risk factors, and its critical implications within the medical field.

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See our newest publications:

Macrophage Polarization as a Potential Driver and a Therapeutic Target for Sepsis-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults
Authors: Zeidan RS, Reinhard S, Sykes S, Price C, Wallet SM, Maile R, Efron PA, Mankowski RT, Anton S.
Journal: Shock. 2025. doi:10.1097/SHK.0000000000002723
PMID: 41115112
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 41115112): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41115112/

Trauma-induced Alterations in Bone Marrow Exosome microRNA Profiles
Authors: Yoham AL, Peethala A, Bible LE, Kannan KB, Wheeler C, Hernández-Ríos M, Rodhouse CE, Maile R, Efron PA, Mohr AM.
Journal: Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. 2025. doi:10.1097/TA.0000000000004831
PMID: 41247314
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 41247314): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41247314/

DAMP-driven Trained Immunity: Metabolic and Epigenetic Reprogramming in Critical Illness and Chronic Inflammation
Authors: Kim HG, Rincon JC, Efron PA, Maile R.
Journal: Frontiers in Immunology. 2025;16. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2025.1669054
🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1669054

Chromatin Remodeling and Transcriptional Silencing Define the Dynamic Innate Immune Response of Tissue Resident Macrophages After Burn Injury
Authors: Kim HG, Gauthier M-PL, Higgs A, Hernandez DA, Zhou M, Brant JO, Bacher RL, Darden DB, Wallet SM, Mathews CE, Moldawer LL, Efron PA, Kladde MP, Maile R.
Journal: Shock. 2025. doi:10.1097/SHK.0000000000002746 (online ahead of print)
PMID: 41166121
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 41166121): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41166121/

Optimization of Pre-Clinical Rodent Research Models of Human Shock: Part 1 Intra-abdominal Sepsis
Authors: Rodhouse C, Michael Z, Byskosh A, Boeno FP, Hernández-Rios M, Park G, Dumitrescu S, Fisler GM, Taylor MD, Abraham MN, Vo Q, Charles A, Lederer J, Laitano O, Rincon J, Nagpal R, Chakrabarty P, Casadesus G, Osuchowski MF, Deutschman CS, Bible L.
Journal: Shock. 2025. Advance online publication. doi:10.1097/SHK.0000000000002742
PMID: 41166157
🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SHK.0000000000002742

Quantifying Nuance within Sepsis-Associated Immune Suppression toward Diagnostic Certainty
Authors: Caldwell CC, Maile R, Mazer MB, McGonagill PW, Bergmann CB, Gould RW, Rao M, Hernández-Ríos M, Ungaro RF, Loftus TJ, Efron PA, Remy KE, Brakenridge SC, Badovinac VP, Griffith TS, Hotchkiss RS, Moldawer LL.
Journal: Shock. 2025. doi:10.1097/SHK.0000000000002745
PMID: 41166166
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 41166166): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41166166/

Monocyte Anisocytosis Can Discriminate Between Sepsis and Sterile Inflammation, but not Mortality, in Critically Ill Surgical/Trauma Patients: A Secondary Prospective Analysis
Authors: Hernández-Rios M, Wu R, Polcz VA, Burnside RD, Yonker LM, Irimia D, Xiao F, Rincon JC, Loftus TJ, Moldawer LL, Maile R, Efron PA, Liang M.
Journal: Critical Care Explorations. 2025;7(9):e1309. doi:10.1097/CCE.0000000000001309
PMID: 40924914
🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/CCE.0000000000001309

A Consensus Immune Dysregulation Framework for Sepsis and Critical Illnesses
Authors: Moore AR, Zheng H, Ganesan A, Hasin-Brumshtein Y, Maddali MV, Levitt JE, van der Poll T, Lu J, Bouma HR, Scicluna BP, Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ, Kotsaki A, Martin-Loeches I, Garduno A, Rothman RE, Sevransky J, Wright DW, Atreya MR, Moldawer LL, Efron PA, Kralovcova M, Karvunidis T, Giannini HM, Meyer NJ, Sweeney TE, Rogers AJ, Khatri P.
Journal: Nature Medicine. 2025. doi:10.1038/s41591-025-03956-5
PMID: 41028543
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 41028543): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41028543/

Microbiome-based Therapeutics Towards Healthier Aging and Longevity
Authors: Kadyan S, Park G, Singh TP, Patoine C, Singar S, Heise T, Domeier C, Ray C, Kumar M, Behare PV, Chakrabarty P, Efron PA, Sheffler J, Nagpal R.
Journal: Genome Medicine. 2025;17(1):52. doi:10.1186/s13073-025-01493-x
PMID: 40597414
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 40597414): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40597414/

Temporal Changes in the Protein Cargo of Extracellular Vesicles and Resultant Immune Reprogramming After Severe Burn Injury in Humans and Mice
Authors: Willis ML, Seim RF, Herring LE, Mordant AL, Webb TS, Upchurch GR, Sharma AK, Cairns BA, Efron PA, Wallet SM, Coleman LG Jr, Maile R.
Journal: Frontiers in Immunology. 2025;16:1596598
PMID: 40534873
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 40534873): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40534873/

Organizational Structure for Surgical Critical Care Advanced Practice Providers in an Academic Teaching Hospital
Authors: Venegas BO, Sickler K, Becker TK, Maybauer MO, McDowell LD, Upchurch GR, Efron PA.
Journal: The Nurse Practitioner. 2025;50(5):43-47
PMID: 40269351
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 40269351): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40269351/

Determining Potential Immunomodulatory Drug Efficacy in Sepsis Using ELISpot
Authors: Walton AH, Mazer MB, Remy KE, Osborne DF, Davitt EB, Griffith TS, Gould RW, Badovinac VP, Brakenridge SC, Drewry AM, Ungaro RF, Rocha IL, Loftus TJ, Efron PA, Moldawer LL, Caldwell CC, Hotchkiss RS.
Journal: Scientific Reports. 2025;15(1):13464
PMID: 40251188
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 40251188): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40251188/

Honoring Advance Directives: A Scoping Review of Adherence and Impact on Value of Care
Authors: Chatham AH, Balch JA, Hong P, Baskaran N, Manganiello L, Abbott KL, Brown M, Bihorac A, Efron PA, Shickel B, Moseley R, Loftus TJ.
Journal: Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2025 (online ahead of print)
PMID: 40197904
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 40197904): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40197904/

Innate Immune Training in the Neonatal Response to Sepsis
Authors: Rincon JC, Wang D, Polcz VE, Barrios EL, Dirain ML, Ungaro RF, Nacionales DC, Zeumer-Spataro L, Xiao F, Efron PA, Moldawer LL, Cai G, Larson SD.
Journal: Molecular Medicine. 2025;31(1):159
PMID: 40307728
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 40307728): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40307728/

Corrigendum to “Functional Connectivity Within Sensorimotor Cortical and Striatal Regions Is Regulated by Sepsis in a Sex-Dependent Manner”
Authors: Vo Q, Simon ZD, Park G, Nacionales DC, Gorski C, Barrios EL, Casadesus G, Efron PA, Moldawer LL, Nagpal R, Chakrabarty P, Febo M.
Journal: NeuroImage. 2025;308:121025
PMID: 39828487
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 39828487): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39828487/

Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Elective Pediatric Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies
Authors: Rodhouse C, Raymond R, Neal D, Loftus TJ, Khan FA, Do AR, Taylor JA, Efron PA, Larson SD, Raymond SL.
Journal: Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2025;60(3):162055
PMID: 39549681
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 39549681): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39549681/

Nonselective Beta Blockade Enhances Gut Microbiome Diversity in a Rodent Model of Trauma, Hemorrhage, and Chronic Stress
Authors: Munley JA, Kelly LS, Park G, Pons EE, Apple CG, Kannan KB, Bible LE, Efron PA, Nagpal R, Mohr AM.
Journal: Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. 2025;98(2):309-318
PMID: 39813154
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 39813154): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39813154/

Functional Immunophenotyping for Precision Therapies in Sepsis
Authors: Rao M, McGonagill PW, Brackenridge S, Remy KE, Caldwell CC, Hotchkiss RS, Moldawer LL, Griffith TS, Badovinac VP.
Journal: Shock. 2025;63(2):189-201
PMID: 39617419
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 39617419): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39617419/

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of IL-7 in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Shankar-Hari M, Francois B, Remy KE, Gutierrez C, Pastores S, Daix T, Jeannet R, Blood J, Walton AH, Salomao R, Auzinger G, Striker D, Martin RS, Anand NJ, Bosanquet J, Blood T, Brakenridge S, Moldawer LL, Vachharajani V, Yee C, Dal-Pizzol F, Morre M, Berbille F, van den Brink M, Hotchkiss R.
Journal: JCI Insight. 2025;10(6):e189150
PMID: 39903535
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 39903535): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39903535/

Functional Connectivity Within Sensorimotor Cortical and Striatal Regions Is Regulated by Sepsis in a Sex-Dependent Manner
Authors: Vo Q, Simon ZD, Park G, Nacionales DC, Gorski C, Barrios EL, Casadesus G, Efron PA, Moldawer LL, Nagpal R, Chakrabarty P, Febo M.
Journal: NeuroImage. 2025;305:120995
PMID: 39753162
🔗 PubMed (PMID: 39753162): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39753162/