Acute organ failure and extracorporeal technologies
The overarching objectives are to advance research, innovation, and education in acute organ failure, particularly in the application of extracorporeal technologies. This theme seeks to bridge the gap between clinical challenges, translational research, and emerging technologies, ultimately enhancing care pathways and patient outcomes for individuals with organ failure.
Research themes
1. Acute cardio-respiratory failure, weaning and extracorporeal technologies
Aims
To advance research, innovation and education in acute respiratory failure, with a particular focus on personalising respiratory monitoring and ventilation, weaning strategies and the application of extracorporeal technologies. This theme aims to bridge the gap between clinical challenges, translational research, and emerging technologies, ultimately improving care pathways and long-term outcomes for patients with respiratory failure.
Areas of research activity
- Developing and evaluating weaning tools to improve early liberation from mechanical ventilation.
- Optimising the use of extracorporeal support technologies (such as ECMO and ECCO₂R) to support patients with severe respiratory failure.
Leadership
- TBC
Theme membership and internal collaborators
- Phil Hopkins (KCH Consultant – Senior Lecturer KCL)
- Dan Hadfield (NIHR Fellow – Research Nurse – KCH)
- Patrick Collins (PhD student)
- Nicholas Barrett (GSTT consultant – Senior Lecturer KCL)
- Chris Remmington (GSTT pharmacist – NIHR DCAF)
- Timothy Jenkins (NIHR Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellow)
- Marlies Ostermann (GSTT consultant – Adjunct Professor KCL)
- Divaka Pereira (GSTT consultant – Professor KCL)
2. Liver failure syndromes
Aims
To advance research, innovation and education in acute and chronic liver disease, with focus on the pathogenesis of liver failure and associated extra-hepatic organ dysfunction and failure and the optimal application of established and novel therapies – including liver transplantation.
Areas of Research Activity
- Advancing the understanding of pathogenesis and treatment of liver failure through characterisation and modulation of immune function and metabolism in people with liver failure.
- Using ‘Big Data’ approaches to optimise clinical management of liver failure from the analysis of routinely collected real-world data.
- Pioneering the use of novel extracorporeal support technologies in patients with severe liver failure.
- Developing new indications for expedited liver transplantation including Acute on Chronic liver failure (ACLF).
Leadership
- Co-led by Dr Mark McPhail and Prof Will Bernal
Theme Membership and Internal collaborators
- - Marlies Ostermann (GSTT)
- - Gudrun Kunst (KCH)
- - Jeremy Carlton (KCL)
- - Vishal Patel (KCL/RWIOH)
3. Critical care nephrology, organ cross talk and extracorporeal blood purification
Aims
- to advance research, innovation and education in critical care nephrology in collaboration with related specialties (cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, hepatology, pulmonology, perioperative medicine etc)
- to identify strategies that enable personalised management of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI)
- to study the mechanisms and role of new blood purification strategies in acute kidney injury and associated acute illnesses
- to investigate the physiological consequences of acute kidney injury on other organ systems and identify tools for early recognition and management (organ cross-talk)
- to identify tools and strategies to improve the long-term outcomes of patients who survive an episode of acute kidney injury
Areas of Research Activity
- Identifying biomarkers for AKI sub-phenotyping to enable personalised management across diverse patient populations.
- Developing strategies to prevent development and progression of AKI in high-risk patients
- Optimising the use of blood purification technologies (such as renal replacement therapy and hemadsorption techniques) to support patients with AKI and multi-organ failure
- Integrating physiological principles, technological advancements, and personalised care strategies in the management of AKI to enhance patient outcomes.
- Facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration and research to drive evidence-based innovation in critical care nephrology
Leadership
- Prof Marlies Ostermann
Theme Membership and Internal collaborators
- Sam Hutchings (KCH – Professor of Intensive Care)
- Gudrun Kunst (KCH – Professor of Cardiovascular Anaesthesia)
- Kamran Baig (GSTT – Consultant in Cardiothoracic Surgery)
- Mark McPhail (KCL – Reader in Experimental Medicine)
4. Critical care gastroenterology and Nutrition (TBC)
5. Critical care neurology, sedation and Delerium (TBC)