Unite for Sepsis Symposium: Advancing Sepsis Research, Innovation, Collaboration, and Impact

On September 8–9, 2025, Sepsis Alliance convened the inaugural Unite for Sepsis Symposium at the Gleacher Center in Chicago. Held in partnership with the Grainger College of Engineering, the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Carle Health, and HEI Partners, the meeting brought together clinicians, engineers, basic and clinical researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, patients and patient advocates, and policymakers to accelerate progress in sepsis science and care. 

More than 175 of the nation’s leading sepsis stakeholders were in attendance for the two-day event, joining 18 industry sponsors across discipline areas. 

“The central goal of the Unite for Sepsis Symposium was to break down silos between disciplines and sectors, fostering collaboration across technology, medicine, regulatory, and funding domains,” said Thomas Heymann, Sepsis Alliance President and CEO. “Over two days, the program spotlighted emerging tools, generated actionable insight, and identified pathways to bring innovation more rapidly and equitably into clinical settings.” 

The panel discussions featured 44 subject-matter experts from healthcare, government, venture capital, and research, including Derek Angus, MD, MPH, Nathan Shapiro, MD, MPH, and Laura Evans, MD, MSc.  

View the event program with full agenda here.  

“The Unite for Sepsis Symposium is the first to bring together cross-disciplinary research and innovation with a focus solely on sepsis. Our goal is to work together to find cures for sepsis that will save lives, prevent the terrible sequelae of sepsis, and reduce healthcare costs by billions of dollars in the United States. Many of the nation’s top sepsis thinkers and innovators attended, and next year promises to be even better,” said Steven Simpson, MD, co-chair of the symposium, Professor of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Kansas, and Chair of the Sepsis Alliance Board of Directors. 

Sepsis Alliance’s mission is to save lives and reduce suffering by educating the public and leading an alliance of patients, healthcare professionals, and partners committed to preventing and curing sepsis. The Unite for Sepsis Symposium is a solid step in strengthening this life-saving alliance of industries and individuals for a more sepsis-safe world.   

A full event report is in production.  

Interested in attending a future Unite for Sepsis Symposium? Make sure you are receiving the Sepsis Alliance newsletter to be alerted when registration opens for the 2026 event. Click here to sign up for the newsletter.