The Austere Environment Consortium for Enhanced Sepsis Outcomes (ACESO)​
Overview
The ACESO Program is a pioneering initiative dedicated to advancing our understanding and management of severe infections, particularly in low-resource, high-challenge environments. Recognizing the critical need for effective responses to complex health threats, ACESO conducts comprehensive epidemiological research to elucidate the causes, progression, and outcomes of severe infections such as sepsis.
By leveraging innovative technologies and tailored approaches, the program aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment protocols, and patient outcomes, even in settings with limited resources. While its primary focus is on addressing endemic infectious diseases, ACESO also maintains a strategic, though limited, involvement in emerging infectious disease outbreaks, providing vital support and expertise.
Our Capabilities
- Expert Clinical and Laboratory Teams: Our highly trained healthcare professionals and scientists are equipped to conduct advanced research and respond effectively to high-consequence pathogens.
- State-of-the-Art Research Laboratory – Fully equipped to perform complex diagnostics, pathogen identification, and research activities essential for understanding severe infections.
- Pharmacy and Data Centre – Ensuring seamless medication management and real-time data collection to inform research and response efforts.
- Isolation and High-Dependence Units – Specialized facilities designed to safely manage critically ill patients, including those with highly contagious or severe infections.
- Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships – ACESO works closely with local communities, government agencies, and international partners to support ongoing research activities. These collaborations foster trust, facilitate data collection, and enable rapid response capabilities during potential epidemic outbreaks.
Healthcare workers in full PPE at the isolation unit.
Our Impact
- Responding to Ebola – During the 2022/23 Ebola outbreak, we supported the national effort by providing direct clinical care to patients, offering laboratory support to Ebola treatment centres, and training healthcare workers on infection prevention and control. We also helped develop the official response protocols for Ebola and Marburg viruses, ensuring a quicker and more coordinated response to future outbreaks.
- Innovating Healthcare – We developed Point-of-Care Technologies that allow for faster diagnosis and treatment of diseases. These innovations not only improve patient outcomes but also keep healthcare workers safer, especially in challenging, low-resource settings.
- Strengthening Laboratory Services – We helped Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital’s Laboratory achieve SANAS accreditation, ensuring their tests and results meet high-quality standards. This boosts trust and reliability in the health services they provide to the community.
