Professor Microbiology and  Immunology, University of British Columbia, Canada

Prof Bob Hancock is a leading figure in microbiology and director of the Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research (CMDR) a multi-faculty, multi-department consortium of world class microbial diseases and immunology researchers.  

His research spans various new approaches to fighting infectious diseases, including network biology of innate immunity and inflammation. His lab has established large, open-source multiomics databases with integrated bioinformatics tools that are being used to advance our understanding of immune responses, including in sepsis.  

His numerous awards and honors include the Prix Galien, the highest award for Canadian pharmaceutical research and innovation, an Officer of the Order of Canada, and the Killam Prize, the Canada Council’s prize for health Research.  

He continues to inspire new generations in microbial research and innovation at the University of British Columbia where he has researched and taught for nearly 40 years.

Professor of Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada

Prof Claudia dos Santos is a leader in critical care medicine, serving as a professor at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and a critical care intensivist at Unity Health Toronto. At the forefront of translational research, she holds the position of Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and conducts pioneering work at the Keenan Research Centre. 

Her research program excels in integrating patient-based discovery with in-vitro and in-vivo research to advance molecular critical care. She has served as the Scientific Director of the Canadian Critical Care Society and Co-Director of CRAFT. Claudia established the Critical Care Medicine Biobank and leads PREDICT, a program leveraging precision diagnostics and AI.

She also spearheads ARIATNE, focusing on personalized RNA therapies for pandemic readiness. 

Assistant Professor Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Canada 

Prof Amy Lee is a leading researcher in neonatal immune development, neonatal sepsis, antimicrobial resistance, and bacterial genomics. Her work applies cutting-edge systems biology approaches to enhance diagnostics for neonatal sepsis and combat antimicrobial resistance.  

Amy’s lab at Simon Fraser University investigates the dynamic interactions between hosts and pathogens, employing both experimental and bioinformatic methods. Her research spans from understanding molecular virulence and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in pathogens to examining host immune responses during development and infections such as sepsis or COVID-19. 

Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Intensive Care, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium 

Prof Jean-Louis Vincent is a world-renowned figure in the field of intensive care medicine and celebrated for his extensive research contributions, particularly in the area of sepsis, hemodynamic monitoring, and critical care management. Jean-Louis's influential publications have significantly advanced the understanding and treatment of sepsis and other critical conditions.  

Beyond research, Jean-Louis has shaped education and training for intensive care and healthcare professionals through his roles on editorial boards and organizing international conferences. As a former editor of the journal "Critical Care" and a key figure in the "World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine" he has transformed clinical practices and guidelines in critical care settings worldwide. 

Professor of Pediatrics, Investigator, BCCH Research Institute, President, Global Sepsis Alliance, Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Canada 

Prof Niranjan "Tex" Kissoon is a visionary in pediatric critical care and global health. He is the UBC BC Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair in Acute and Critical Care Global Health and is a Professor of Pediatrics and Surgery at the University of British Columbia.  

A former president of the World Federation of Pediatric Critical and Intensive Care Societies, Tex now leads the Global Sepsis Alliance as President. His leadership extends to global sepsis initiatives, the Pediatric Surviving Sepsis Campaign, the Canadian Sepsis Foundation, and chairing World Sepsis Day. 

Tex has earned prestigious accolades, including the 2020 Drs Vidyasagar and Nagamani Dharmapuri Award, and Master in Critical Care from the Society of Critical Care. His contributions have been recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, and University of West Indies Medical Alumni Association.