Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated immune response to infection. It remains one of the world’s most common and yet most underestimated causes of death: in 2019 an estimated 13.7 million people died as a result of sepsis. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly affected, bearing the highest proportion of sepsis-related deaths worldwide.

Against this background, the STAIRS project was launched with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Involving eight African institutions (including HITM) and two German partner institutions, STAIRS aims to:

→ Close critical knowledge gaps in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and quality of care for sepsis
→ Build sustainable research capacity
→ Translate new scientific findings into health policy action

The project focuses on four key areas:

1. Research
→ Assess the burden of sepsis in the population
→ Establish a multinational (seven Sub-Saharan countries) adult and pediatric patient cohort
→ Further develop and evaluate an electronic quality-improvement app for in-hospital sepsis care
→ Evaluate a novel, comprehensive sepsis diagnostic panel
→ Study the impact of different post-discharge strategies on mortality

2. Capacity Building
→ Support and mentor early-career researchers
→ Build technical and institutional research capacities, including clinical trials on sepsis
→ Explore the use of telemedicine to improve clinical care

3. Networking
→ Establish a robust, pan–Sub-Saharan African sepsis research network
→ Strengthen sepsis programs and initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa
→ Facilitate exchange between industry partners and policy makers

4. Policy Engagement
→ Align with the WHO Resolution on “Improving the Prevention, Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Sepsis”
→ Translate evidence into sepsis-related policies across the network
→ Foster inclusive and holistic stakeholder engagement

Through this comprehensive approach, STAIRS seeks to reduce the burden of sepsis, improve care pathways, and build long-lasting research and policy capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa.