Overview: The Department of the Navy, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) is interested in receiving applications for a new Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) program dedicated to improving prevention, early recognition, diagnosis, and effective treatment of severe sepsis from all causes in austere environments. This program will be supported through the establishment of a consortium of investigators with skills and expertise in infectious disease, critical care, systems biology, global health, and other relevant fields who will work together on a coordinated program of research. This consortium, named the Austere Environments Consortium for Enhanced Sepsis Outcomes (ACESO), will focus on the generation of knowledge that can rapidly translate into preventing and improving the outcome of severe sepsis in austere or resource-limited settings. Particular attention will focus on etiologic causes that currently have no specific therapies and that pose unique risks to the military with respect to outbreaks, deployed forces, or deliberate-use scenarios (e.g., viral hemorrhagic fever [VHF]). ACESO will establish a platform for research to address gaps in the Department of DefenseÂ’s (DoD) capabilities for improving knowledge on severe sepsis and biological threats that manifest as severe sepsis in austere settings. ACESO will leverage a network of investigators, trained study staff, and in-country infrastructure to execute research that will evaluate clinical management strategies and the pathogenesis of severe sepsis, characterize the clinical aspects of sepsis related to various potential biological threats, improve outcomes for severe sepsis in austere environments, investigate the immunopathogenesis and long-term sequelae of infectious etiologies (especially hemorrhagic fevers), and augment the capability to gather important clinical data in outbreak settings of severe emerging disease. The ACESO award resulting from this program announcement will be issued as a cooperative agreement between the recipient (ACESO Coordinator) and the Government (the Naval Medical Logistics Command [NMLC]). One award is planned with a five year performance period.