VCURES Participating in Multicenter Trial Identifying Biomarkers in Sepsis.

VCURES has been chosen to participate in a multicenter trial identifying serum biomarkers that may be useful in identifying and monitoring treatment in sepsis. The trial is sponsored by Biosite Inc., San Diego , California ( http://www.biosite.com/ ). VCURES will also use this opportunity to study the hemodynamic, oxygen delivery, tissue perfusion, and microcirculation alterations during the various stages of sepsis and to compare these changes with the biomarker measurements.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the uncontrolled systemic inflammatory response to bacterial, viral or fungal infection. Severe sepsis (sepsis associated with acute organ dysfunction) and septic shock (sepsis with arterial hypotension) affect approximately 700,000 people annually in the United States and account for approximately 210,000 deaths. The incidence of sepsis is rising at a rate of up to 8% a year in some instances. Sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock patients present a tremendous burden the Emergency Department and ICU, with costs upwards of 1.6 billion a year.

VCURES investigator, Dr. Kyle Gunnerson, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Anesthesiology/Critical Care, will serve as the site's Principal Investigator. Pete Savard, Department of Emergency Medicine, will be the research coordinator. Other VCURES co-investigators include Dr. Kevin Ward, (Department of Emergency Medicine), and Dr. Curtis Sessler (Department of Internal Medicine/Pulmonary Critical Care). VCURES was chosen because of its recognition as a leader in early recognition and treatment of sepsis in the Emergency Department and has extensive experience with Early Goal Directed Therapy in Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock patients. http://www.vcu.edu/vcures/news/news_therapy_sepsis.htm

For more information contact Dr. Kyle Gunnerson at kgunnerson@vcu.edu