GSA and SCCM Launch Landmark Sepsis Collaboration Supported by the Laerdal Foundation
In April 2026, the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) will launch a landmark collaboration to transform the global response to Sepsis.
“Saving Lives from Sepsis: From Evidence to Impact” is a joint initiative of the partner organizations in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by a grant from the Laerdal Foundation. The initiative represents one of the most comprehensive international efforts to strengthen Sepsis research and elevate this medical emergency higher on the global health agenda.
Sepsis – A Global Health Emergency
Sepsis remains one of the most pressing but under-recognized health challenges worldwide. It is responsible for 1 in every 5 deaths globally, placing immense strain on healthcare systems and societies. According to estimates published in The Lancet, 48.9 million people develop Sepsis each year, and 11 million newborns, children, and adults die from this medical emergency. Updated estimates published in October 2025 suggest 166 million cases and 21.4 million Sepsis-related deaths in 2021 alone.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, has emphasized that most of the 11 million deaths caused by Sepsis each year are preventable through low-cost infection prevention and control measures, and that nobody should die from Sepsis while seeking care.
Yet despite its massive burden, Sepsis continues to receive insufficient political attention and financial investment - particularly in low-resource settings where data gaps remain significant. These gaps ultimately slow progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), especially in efforts to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality.
How the Project will Change the Status Quo
GSA and SCCM, working with WHO and the WHO-hosted Acute Care Action Network (ACAN) and supported by a historic grant from the Laerdal Foundation, will lead three interconnected flagship initiatives to strengthen global evidence, research priorities, and the real-world implementation of Sepsis care.
Initiative 1. Global Report on the Health System Response to Sepsis
WHO will lead the development of the first global report and dashboard assessing how health systems worldwide prevent, detect, and manage Sepsis. The report, developed with technical input from GSA and SCCM, will be launched on World Sepsis Day (13 September 2027) and presented during a Sepsis side event held in parallel to the 82nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Initiative 2. 2026–2030 Global Sepsis Research Strategy
Beginning in May 2026, GSA and SCCM will work with WHO to lead a global expert and multi-stakeholder consultation process using the Utstein methodology to define priorities for the 2026–2030 Global Sepsis Research Strategy. The strategy will be presented during a Sepsis side in parallel to the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2026. The accompanying Sepsis Research Toolkits will be launched at a dedicated side event on the margins of the 80th World Health Assembly in May 2027.
Initiative 3. 10×10×10 Implementation Science Initiative
Led by SCCM and GSA with support from ACAN participant organizations, this initiative will evaluate the implementation of the WHO Sepsis Care Guidelines and tools across 10 countries in different geographic regions and resource settings. This implementation research will also document patient journeys and release 10 Sepsis Patient and Family Case Studies. Final results of the initiative will be presented at the 81st World Health Assembly in May 2028.
From Evidence to Impact
This historic collaboration aims to save millions of lives and strengthen health systems worldwide by aligning global expertise, strengthening research priorities, and accelerating the implementation of proven sepsis care practices.