Team

Prof. Dr. med. Luregn Schlapbach is a Professor of Pediatric Intensive Care at the University of Zurich, leads the Department of Intensive Care and Neonatology at University Children’s Hospital Zurich and is the Swiss Sepsis Program Initiator. He co-leads a research program focused on sepsis, infection, and inflammation in critically ill children and neonates. As key initiator of the Swiss Sepsis National Action Plan, he is involved in the leadership of the Swiss National Sepsis Program. Schlapbach maintains collaboration with The University of Queensland, Australia, where he contributed to the Statewide Sepsis Collaborative before moving to Switzerland in 2020. His research centers on life-threatening infections in children, aiming to improve patient outcomes through better understanding and clinical trials.

PD Dr. med. Nora Lüthi is a specialist in Intensive Care Medicine and General Internal Medicine with a postgraduate diploma in epidemiology from the the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She is the Medical Program Manager for the Swiss Sepsis Program and oversees the implementation of the Swiss National Action Plan. Dr Lüthi has worked as a senior researcher at the ANZICS RC in Melbourne, Australia, and was one of the principal investigators and coordinators of the VITAMINS trial, a multi-centre study of the effects of vitamin C in patients with septic shock. Her research focuses on improving outcomes in critically ill patients through evidence-based interventions and clinical trials, and she is dedicated to advancing sepsis research and quality improvement in healthcare.

PD Dr. med. Christine Thurnheer is an Infectious Disease specialist and senior consultant at Bern University Hospital, where she incorporates a multidisciplinary approach to the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of sepsis into her daily practice. Being part of the Swiss Sepsis Program allows her to work on a healthcare issue that is particularly close to her heart, driving her commitment to improving outcomes for sepsis patients.
Dr. Thurnheer leads Work Package 2 (WP 2), which focuses on raising sepsis awareness through public campaigns and building sepsis champions and ambassadors. In this role, she will work closely with a communication specialist to enhance both public and professional recognition of sepsis across Switzerland.
Additionally, she co-leads Work Package 3 (WP 3), which is dedicated to the education of healthcare workers. By developing and implementing targeted training programs, she aims to ensure early detection and better management of sepsis, further contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Dr. med. Simone Ehrhard is a senior physician in adult emergency medicine at Inselspital, Bern University Hospital. She completed her medical studies and HIV research at the University of Basel and holds board certifications in General Internal Medicine and Anesthesia, along with certifications in pre-clinical and clinical emergency medicine. Additionally, she earned a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Clinical Trial Management from the University of Zurich.
Regularly encountering sepsis patients in her clinical work, Dr. Ehrhard is deeply committed to improving sepsis care through the Swiss Sepsis Program. She co-leads Work Package 2 (WP 2), focusing on sepsis awareness campaigns and developing sepsis champions, as well as Work Package 3 (WP 3), dedicated to educating healthcare workers for early detection and management of sepsis.

PD Dr. med. Sylvain Meylan is an Infectious Diseases specialist and has led the sepsis quality of care program at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) since fall 2019. In addition to his leadership role at CHUV, Dr. Meylan is an attending physician and instructor in infectious diseases at Lausanne University Hospital and holds a Privat Docent title at the University of Lausanne. As part of the Swiss Sepsis Program, he serves as the medical lead for Work Package 4, focusing on the development and implementation of clinical pathways and care models. Trained in Lausanne, Stockholm, and Boston, Dr. Meylan also completed residency experiences in Basel and Brighton. He holds an MD-PhD in retrovirology and human genetics and completed a research fellowship on antibiotic tolerance in Boston. Dr. Meylan’s work focuses on enhancing rapid recognition and delivering guideline-based care for sepsis patients, with a strong emphasis on integrating advanced technologies like AI to improve clinical support and patient outcomes.

Mrs Sophie Le Guennec is a project and change management professional with 20 years of experience, specializing in innovative projects across healthcare, fiberglass, stainless steel, and the wine industry. Since March 2024, she has served as the project manager for Work Package 4 in the Swiss Sepsis Program, focusing on the development and implementation of clinical pathways and care models to improve sepsis care. She also brings her expertise to the CHUV Infectious Diseases Service in Lausanne.
With a degree in political science, a master’s in Innovation and Technology Management, and certifications in PMP® and Prosci®, she has successfully led large-scale projects and cross-functional teams across EMEA, North America, and Asia. Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration and open communication to achieve project success. Her broad experience gives her a well-rounded understanding of project management, allowing her to adapt to various challenges.
In her role with the Swiss Sepsis Program, she utilizes her expertise to drive the successful implementation of key initiatives aimed at improving sepsis care in Switzerland.