12/08/2025
Meet Dr. Asher Mendelson, an Assistant Professor and researcher in the Section of Critical Care and Department of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Mendelson’s research focuses on sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s overwhelming response to infection. He is particularly interested in the microcirculation, the smallest blood vessels in the body, and how their disruption during sepsis leads to organ dysfunction. His work seeks to uncover the mechanisms behind these microvascular changes to explain how sepsis damages multiple organ systems.
His team uses a bench to bedside approach that links laboratory studies to patient care. In the lab, they study microcirculatory dysfunction using small animal models. At the bedside, they apply advanced noninvasive monitoring in the ICU, turning laboratory findings into practical tools for patient treatment. He is also using techniques from exercise physiology to improve long term cardiovascular outcomes for sepsis survivors.
"When we think about translational research, we start at the bedside with an understanding of the disease and the types of problems that patients with sepsis have. Then we go back to the bench to use the tools that are there in a way that can bring our new resources back to the bedside," explained Dr. Mendelson.
Dr. Mendelson emphasized that his research is highly collaborative and made possible through his work with outstanding clinical researchers, clinicians, and basic scientists at the University of Manitoba and across Canada. What he values most is bringing experts together to address these challenges. “I am happiest when I am bringing different people with different skill sets into a room together to solve problems," he explained. "I feel that that's really one of the strongest deliverables and roles of clinician scientists, to bridge those gaps between basic science and clinical research, and between basic science and clinicians."
Dr. Mendelson is applying his expertise to advance our understanding of sepsis, and improve the survival and quality of life for patients. His goal is to create innovative tools for monitoring microcirculation, enabling earlier diagnosis, more accurate assessment, and improved treatment strategies. Through this work, he aims to transform how sepsis is understood and managed, reducing its impact on patients worldwide.
