SUMMARY
The research interests of Ognjen Gajic, M.D., focus on how and why people become critically ill and how care teams can improve outcomes. His work centers on sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan dysfunction. He studies these conditions through clinical trials, human-centered care models, virtual simulation and clinical informatics.
Dr. Gajic also is deeply involved in mentoring clinicians and researchers at all career stages. He has trained physicians, nurses, data scientists and implementation leaders who now lead clinical programs, research networks and quality initiatives around the world.
Focus areas
- Treatment strategies for critical illness. Dr Gajic and his team study the clinical course and outcomes of patients with critical illness or injury. Their goal is to find treatment strategies that are reliable, safe and practical at the bedside. This work aims to improve survival, reduce complications and support recovery for patients and families.
- Advanced data‑driven discovery. His team uses clinical data, informatics, virtual simulation and carefully tested artificial intelligence tools to understand how the body responds to acute illness and injury and gain new insights into disease mechanisms. The group uses real-world testing to identify treatments most likely to help patients recover.
- Global impact through collaborative research. Dr. Gajic's team leads major international initiatives, including the Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and iNjury (CERTAIN) and the Viral Infection and Respiratory Illness Universal Study (VIRUS) Registry. These programs bring together hospitals across continents to improve care using shared data, simple tools and local leadership.
Significance to patient care
Patients who are very sick or badly injured do better when their care teams work in a coordinated, consistent way. Dr. Gajic and his team have created smart decision-support and virtual simulation tools that help healthcare professionals make safer, faster decisions. These tools are now being used in hospitals around the world.
Studies have shown that this approach helps care teams spot problems earlier, prevent avoidable harm and create a safer, more supportive care environment. For patients, this means fewer complications, clearer communication and better chance of recovery.
Professional highlights
- Mayo Clinic:
- Chair, Critical Care Quality Subcommittee, 2020-2025.
- Chair, Critical Care Research Subcommittee, 2012-2018.
- Society of Critical Care Medicine:
- Presidential Citation for Outstanding Contributions, 2018, 2022.
- Chair, Discovery, Critical Care Research Network, 2017-2019.
- Roger C. Bone Memorial Lecture in Critical Care, American College of Chest Physicians, 2021.
- Scholar Award in Recognition of Pivotal Scientific Research, National Blood Foundation, 2013.