9th Annual Meeting of the European Sepsis Alliance in Brussels – March 18, 2026

The 9th Annual Meeting of the European Sepsis Alliance (ESA) brought together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, and global health leaders to advance sepsis as a priority in Europe’s evolving health landscape.  Having taken place on March 18, 2026, in Brussels, this high-level meeting focused on translating sepsis from a political call to action into strategic uptake within the new EU and global health era. Discussions address resilient health systems, the economic burden of sepsis, European sepsis surveillance, and the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment.  The programme featured: • A high-level policy panel on prioritising sepsis in Europe • Expert insights on early detection, diagnostics, immunotherapy, and cell therapy • Patient and family voices highlighting lived experience • A panel discussion on the role of sepsis in the current global health architecture This meeting underscored the critical role of coordinated European and global action to reduce sepsis mortality and improve outcomes for patients and families. __ Chapter Markers: 00:00:00 Countdown 00:03:08 Ulrika Knutsson, Sepsisfonden – Opening 00:04:08 Vytenis Andriukaitis, MEP, ESA Patron – Video Message 00:09:09 Dr. Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance 00:12:12 Prof. Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis, ESA Chair 00:16:33 Ana Burgos Gutiérrez, HERA, European Commission 00:23:04 Dr. João Breda, WHO Europe 00:35:36 Prof. Konrad Reinhart, Sepsis Stiftung 00:44:51 Panel Discussion 01:08:15 Session Opening – Prof. Manu Malbrain, Medical University of Lublin 01:09:11 Prof. Elie Azoulay, Paris Cité University and St-Louis Hospital – Septic shock in cancer patients: a Nine-i study group research 01:15:51 Prof. Djillali Annane, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines – Prompt microbial diagnosis 01:27:41 Q&A 01:33:29 Dr. Wolfgang Bauer, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin – Early detection in the emergency department 01:40:56 Dr. Ricard Ferrer, Vall d’Hebron Hospital – The role of IgM and immunoglobulin replacement in sepsis outcome 01:54:40 Prof. Antonio Artigas, Autonomous University of Barcelona – Cell therapy: where do we stand? 02:06:36 Prof. Michael Bauer, Jena University Hospital – Interferon-gamma: a new pathway defining sepsis outcome 02:17:07 Q&A 02:22:22 Keynote address – Sirpa Pietikäinen, MEP, Finland 02:33:06 Coffee Break 02:53:44 Ulrika Knutsson, Sepsisfonden – The importance of awareness: a success story from Sweden 03:02:44 Panel discussion: Voices of patients and families driving policy change in Europe 03:50:51 Panel discussion: Sepsis in the current global health architecture 04:37:10 Closing remarks __ 2025 Global Sepsis Alliance Stop Sepsis – Save Lives