SCIRC Showcases Scientific Leadership and Innovation at Shock 2026

The University of Florida Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center (SCIRC) had a strong presence at the 49th Annual Conference on Shock and the 11th Congress of the International Federation of Shock Societies, held May 31–June 3, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Faculty, trainees, and collaborators from across SCIRC presented cutting-edge research spanning sepsis, trauma, burns, extracellular vesicles, trained immunity, neonatal inflammation, immune reprogramming, and immune metabolism.

A major highlight of the meeting was the presidential address delivered by Alicia Mohr, recognizing her service as President of the Shock Society and reflecting SCIRC’s national leadership within the critical care research community. Dr. Mohr also participated in scientific programming focused on extracellular vesicles and immune responses after severe injury.

SCIRC investigators contributed to numerous oral and poster presentations throughout the meeting, underscoring the center’s commitment to advancing the understanding of critical illness and developing novel therapeutic strategies for patients affected by severe injury and infection. Research topics ranged from chromatin remodeling and myeloid-derived suppressor cells in sepsis to extracellular vesicle biology, trained immunity, neonatal host responses, and trauma-associated immune dysfunction.

Featured presentations included:

Investigator	Presentation highlight
Christine Rodhouse	Precision therapeutics for sepsis survivors with chronic critical illness, focusing on individualized approaches for patients with persistent immune dysfunction after sepsis.
Miguel Hernández-Ríos (Poster Session I)	How aging reprograms cell communication following intra-abdominal polymicrobial sepsis, providing insights into age-related differences in recovery and outcomes.
Robert Maile (Parallel Session 2a)	Extracellular vesicle biology and its emerging role in immune regulation and recovery after severe injury.
Miguel Hernández-Ríos (Young Investigator Session)	BCG vaccination suppresses hyperinflammatory signaling and reshapes immune cell communication in murine neonatal sepsis.
Xuanxuan Yu	Integrative chromatin accessibility and gene expression analysis to identify sepsis outcome–associated factors and support patient endotyping efforts.
Hongru Tang	Multi-cohort analysis linking PMN-MDSC expansion with sepsis progression and patient outcomes.
Madelyn Bucci	Persistent sex-, dose-, and time-dependent extracellular vesicle miRNA changes after radiation injury, supporting EVs as biomarkers and mediators of injury responses.
Ryan Ugarte	Aquaporin-9 inhibition as a potential strategy to reprogram post-injury immune networks after burn and inhalation injury.
Athina Yoham	Links between injury severity and early loss of metabolic reserve in circulating immune cells after trauma.
Michael Kladde	Divergent chromatin remodeling trajectories in myeloid-derived suppressor cells that distinguish recovery from chronic critical illness after sepsis.
Heaven Brandt	Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles reprogram radiation-induced immune dysfunction and improve resistance to late bacterial challenge after injury.
Jaimar Rincon	Neonatal immune responses as a model for understanding trained immunity and long-term immune adaptation.
Whitman Wiggins	Functional differences in monocytes between very preterm and preterm neonates, advancing understanding of neonatal susceptibility to infection and inflammation.

Training and collaboration remain central to SCIRC’s mission

The meeting also highlighted SCIRC’s continued investment in trainee development. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career investigators presented their work across multiple scientific sessions, reflecting the center’s emphasis on mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and translational research. The breadth of presentations demonstrated how SCIRC investigators are integrating immunology, genomics, epigenetics, extracellular vesicle biology, trauma science, and neonatal research to address complex inflammatory diseases.

Looking ahead

Beyond scientific presentations, conference attendees engaged in discussions focused on future funding opportunities and emerging research priorities. A dedicated session featuring representatives from NIGMS, NHLBI, NIAID, and the Department of Defense provided valuable insights into upcoming initiatives and strategic directions relevant to critical illness, inflammation, and immune dysfunction research.

SCIRC’s participation at Shock 2026 underscores the center’s growing national and international impact in the fields of sepsis, trauma, burns, extracellular vesicles, trained immunity, and immune reprogramming. Through innovative science, collaborative partnerships, and a commitment to training the next generation of investigators, SCIRC continues to advance discoveries aimed at improving outcomes for critically ill patients worldwide.

Congrats to Our Shock Travel Award Recipients

Miguel Hernández-Ríos
Christine Rodhouse
Athina Yoham
Heaven Brandt