SIRS-Lab fosters Sepsis Research

Jena, September 04, 2008 SIRS-Lab today announced to foster clinical research- and exchange projects at the medical faculty of the University Jena. The “Young Investigator Award Clinical Microbiology” will be assigned by the Medical Faculty of the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena for a project in the field in microbiological diagnostics of sepsis or severe infections. The Clinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy applies the funds for the scientific exchange with guest-researchers. With the funding, SIRS-Lab wants to recognize outstanding achievements of young scientists in sepsis research.The "Young Investigator Award Clinical Microbiology" funded with 10,000 EURO is unique in Germany and therefore adds important funding to microbiological research. The Institute of Medical Microbiology at the Jena University will assign the award. The guest-scientist program is fostered with 50,000 EURO and organized by the Clinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy of the University Hospital Jena. Exceptionally talented sepsis-researchers will receive a residence at the innovation center "Septomics".

"The early and precise diagnosis of life-threatening infections faces a significant socioeconomic demand and still is a medical challenge for the clinician." describes SIRS-Lab's CEO PD Dr. Stefan Russwurm the reasons for the donation and adds: "Therefore, we doubled the money we received for the three innovation awards to foster outstanding initiatives at the Jena University Hospital."

Prof. Dr. Eberhard Straube and Prof. Dr. Konrad Reinhart, directors of the considered institutions, are pleased about SIRS-Lab's initiative: "We research to decode the development of sepsis and therewith lay the foundation for improved diagnosis and therapy. Therefore, the generous donation is a most welcome and important support."

Sepsis research in Jena

Sepsis, publicly known as "blood poisioning", is a life-threatening bloodstream infection. With 60,000 victims alone in Germany, sepsis is the most common cause of death in surgical intensive care units. Within the last decade, the University Hospital Jena emerged as a worldwide leading center of sepsis research. With "Septomics", the center for innovation competence funded by the German Federation and the state of Thuringia, the city received a further appreciation.