Sepsis

is life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.

13.7 million

Number of people worldwide whose cause of death was sepsis in 2019.

30% of deaths
from sepsis

Sub-Saharan Africa bears the greatest burden of sepsis worldwide.

Director:
Dr. Nathan Kenya-Mugisha
Walimu, Kampala, Uganda

Co-Directors:
Professor Dr. Konrad Reinhart
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
Professor Dr. Torsten Feldt
Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany

Chief Scientific Officer (CSO):
Dr. Shevin Jacob
Walimu, Kampala, Uganda

Deputy CSO:
 Dr. Tafese Tufa
Arsi University, Asella, Ethiopia

Our Program

With eight African and two German partner institutions, STAIRS aims to save lives through innovative sepsis research in sub-Saharan Africa. We leverage our existing networks and seek new partners to …

address vital knowledge gaps in sepsis epidemiology, diagnosis and care quality
strengthen research capacity
translate emerging evidence to policy

Our Team

Sierra Leone

Njala University, Bo

Ghana

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi

Nigeria

University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu

Ethiopia

Arsi University, Asella

Uganda

Walimu, Kampala

Uganda

Makerere University - Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu

Mozambique

Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Maputo

Germany

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin

Germany

University Hospital of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf

Our Areas of Work

High-quality research in Sub-Saharan Africa

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High-quality research in Sub-Saharan Africa

The research initiative encompasses five tasks aimed at enhancing the understanding of and response to sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa. STAIRS will:

Assess the burden of sepsis in the community.

Establish a multinational patient cohort of adults and children.

Refine and evaluate the role of an electronic quality improvement mobile application on in-hospital sepsis care.

Evaluate a novel comprehensive sepsis panel.

Evaluate the role of post-discharge strategies on survival.

Strengthening capacity for sepsis research and care

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Strengthening capacity for sepsis research and care

Stairs will:

Sponsor early career researchers.

Build technical and institutional research capacity, including for clinical trials on sepsis.

Explore the use of telemedicine to improve clinical care.

Networking inside and outside the consortium

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Networking inside and outside the consortium

STAIRS will:

Establish a robust sepsis research network across sub-Saharan Africa.

Strengthen sepsis programs and initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa.

Enable engagement between industry partners and policymakers.

Policy engagement and research transfer

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Policy engagement and research transfer

STAIRS will:

Align with the WHO resolution “Improving the prevention, diagnosis and clinical management of sepsis”.

Translate evidence to sepsis-relevant policies across the network.

Approach stakeholder engagement across the network holistically and inclusively.

Our Partners

To increase impact, STAIRS will collaborate with external organizations, institutions and industry partners.

African Sepsis Alliance (ASA)

African Federation for Emergency Medicine (AFEM)

African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)

Uganda National Health Consumers’ Organisation (UNHCO)

Makerere University Center for Health and Population Research (MUCHAP)

iStreams

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Recent Activities

News

Event

STAIRS Second Annual Consortium Meeting, January 13-17, 2025

We keep climbing! The second annual consortium meeting of the STAIRS consortium in Kumasi, Ghana, was graciously hosted from January 13-17, 2025, by STAIRS PI in Ghana Dr. Johna Adabie ...

Nov 14, 2025

STAIRS Second Annual Consortium Meeting, January 13-17, 2025

Taking the next step: in June, the STAIRS Sierra Leone team underwent evidence-informed decision training hosted by Njala University. Facilitated by AFIDEP, EIDM trainings help to maximise key stakeholder engagement on advancements expected in sepsis research in Africa over the coming years.

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Impressions

Group photo of the participants of the first annual consortium meeting 2023 of STAIRS standing in a hall way.

The STAIRS consortium during their first annual consortium meeting from December 11-15, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Group photo of the participants of the first annual consortium meeting 2023 of STAIRS standing on the stairs of the main entrance outside.

STAIRS directors and PIs #keepclimbing at Africa CDC with Dr. Raji Tajudeen, December 15, 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Group of people cheering and making a collaborative team gesture with their hands over a symbolic cake standing in a foyer.

World-famous former athlete and olympic winner Haile Gebrselassie, who was born in the Ethiopian team site’s region of Asella, joins the STAIRS consortium as a surprise guest of honor.

Close shot of two people discussing things in a private conversation at a table.

The Ghana team, with PI Dr. John Adabie Appiah and Dr. Charles Martyn-Dickens present, focuses on the work at hand during the first annual consortium meeting in Addis Ababa on December 13, 2023.

Close up of Prof. Torsten Feldt sitting at a conference table.

Prof. Torsten Feldt and hosting Ethiopian PI Dr. Tafese Tufa on December 12, 2023.

Workshop with several sitting people in a room listening to one standing speaker and a projection of the agenda on the wall.

Team members of the STAIRS consortium with Prof. Konrad Reinhart during the first annual consortium meeting in Addis Ababa on December 12, 2023.

Close up of director of STAIRS sitting alone at a table while preparing for the next session and writing down some notes on a sheet of paper.

Stop sepsis save lives - Director of STAIRS Dr. Nathan Kenya-Mugisha preparing for the next session during the first annual consortium meeting in Addis Ababa on December 13, 2023.

The network comes together for the Second Annual consortium meeting in Kumasi, Ghana (January 2025)

Breakout session to discuss progress and solutions for the ongoing reserach tasks at the second annual consortium meeting in Kumasi, January 2025

First in-country teleconsultation for sepsis care in Ghana, May 2025.

1/15

@STAIRS_sepsis on X

Another @STAIRS_sepsis team underwent the evidence-informed decision-making (#EIDM) training by @Afidep last week. The @officialunth team acquired skills on evidence synthesis and stakeholder engagement to optimize the translation of our research outputs to policy in #Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/L2226PRaS4
— STAIRS-Sepsis (@STAIRS_sepsis) June 27, 2024

Last week, the @STAIRS_sepsis team in #SierraLeone underwent the evidence-informed decision making (#EIDM) training facilitated by @Afidep and hosted by @UniversityNjala to maximize key stakeholder engagement on advancements expected in #sepsis research over the coming years. pic.twitter.com/5oG6wSKSlf
— STAIRS-Sepsis (@STAIRS_sepsis) June 3, 2024

What a team!! Last week’s STAIRS Telemedicine workshop at @ChariteBerlin was a big success thanks to our champions from Ghana and Ethiopia, and invaluable support from @afemafrica‘s leadership! pic.twitter.com/WCljkBZzpC
— STAIRS-Sepsis (@STAIRS_sepsis) May 20, 2024

And that's a wrap! @STAIRS_sepsis completed its 1st annual meeting in #AddisAbaba impeccably hosted by the @UniversityArsi Team and enjoyed by all. We worked hard, played hard and even met a celebrity (@HaileGebr)! @AfricanSepsis @AfricaCDC #sepsis #KeepClimbing pic.twitter.com/hAj1AIeOqf
— STAIRS-Sepsis (@STAIRS_sepsis) December 17, 2023

Félicitations à notre équipe de @ctdgh_ucb pour le lancement de @STAIRS_sepsis in #RDCongo! @AfricanSepsis @Patrickdemarie https://t.co/fl5jHAtPsc
— STAIRS-Sepsis (@STAIRS_sepsis) September 25, 2023

Today is #WorldSepsisDay. Please consider attending the webinar below hosted by @AfricanSepsis today at 1800 GMT. You can attend for free using this link: https://t.co/4Yunu4L7I8 @WorldSepsisDay https://t.co/YCG99jYKIq
— STAIRS-Sepsis (@STAIRS_sepsis) September 13, 2023

Our Chief Scientific Officer (@guru_uhuru) and Co-Director (Torsten Feldt) presenting on @STAIRS_sepsis at the #RHISSA session at @ScienceUnga yesterday. @WorldSepsisDay @AfricanSepsis @WalimuNGO pic.twitter.com/EWSSejEfaY
— STAIRS-Sepsis (@STAIRS_sepsis) September 13, 2023

#RHISSA network members unwinding in #NYC after today's @ScienceUnga event. pic.twitter.com/a3itwZuIK1
— STAIRS-Sepsis (@STAIRS_sepsis) September 12, 2023

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Saving lives by stepping up Africa's response to sepsis

Sepsis

13.7 million

30% of deathsfrom sepsis

Our Program

Our Team

Our Areas of Work

Our Partners

Recent Activities

STAIRS Second Annual Consortium Meeting, January 13-17, 2025

STAIRS Second Annual Consortium Meeting, January 13-17, 2025

EIDM Training in DRC, July 2024

EIDM Training in DRC, July 2024

EIDM Training in Ghana, July 2024

EIDM Training in Ghana, July 2024

EIDM Training in Ethiopia, July 1-5, 2024

EIDM Training in Ethiopia, July 1-5, 2024

EIDM Training in Nigeria, June 2024

EIDM Training in Nigeria, June 2024

EIDM Training in Sierra Leone, June 2024

EIDM Training in Sierra Leone, June 2024

Impressions

@STAIRS_sepsis on X

30% of deaths
from sepsis