In this issue of Shock, we present a series of papers devoted to exploring the response mechanisms of four key players in the development of sepsis-induced organ dysfunction (epithelial, endothelial, immune cells, and mitochondria), their role as a source of clinically relevant biomarkers, and the contribution of extracorporeal blood purification as a mechanism-targeted treatment for sepsis (1–5). These papers are a result of the 14th International Consensus Conference of the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI). In the first paper of this series, we provide an overview of the ADQI methodology and explore the existing evidence concerning the use of blood purification in sepsis (1). Next, we focus on the features and mechanisms of epithelial dysfunction (2). In the third paper, the role of endothelial dysfunction is reviewed (3), while in the fourth paper we concentrate on the importance of mitochondrial alterations across different organs, and their role in organ dysfunction (4). Finally, in the last paper in this series we describe the fundamental characteristics of monocyte and neutrophil function during sepsis, the phenotypic changes of innate immunity, and the use of peripherally retrieved immune cells to “biopsy” the immune status in patients with sepsis (5). ACUTE DISEASE QUALITY INITIATIVE ADQI began in 2000 as the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative, a nonprofit, member-run organization whose intent is to “provide an objective, dispassionate distillation of the literature and description of the current state of practice” concerning diagnosis and management of acute disease. ADQI is an international, interdisciplinary organization with over 150 members from leading universities around the world. Membership includes adult and pediatric nephrologists, intensivists, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, surgeons, hepatologists, toxicologists, and radiologists. We seek to improve the care of patients with acute diseases including acute kidney injury, cardiorenal syndrome, hepatorenal syndrome, sepsis, shock, and poisoning through evidenced-based medicine. ADQI reports are available online (http://www.adqi.org) and include more than 40 publications. ACADEMIA COLOMBIANA DE MEDICINA CRITICA ADQI XIV represented a collaboration with the Academia Colombiana de Medicina Critica (ACOMEC). ACOMEC is a non-for-profit, academic association conformed in October 2009 by Colombian intensivists who envisioned establishing an unbiased space dedicated to the healthy academic discussion, diffusion, and generation of scientific knowledge in critical care. ACOMEC is a member-run organization, with over 50 associates of diverse backgrounds, including critical care, anesthesiology, internal medicine, respiratory therapy, nursing, cardiology, gynecology, surgery, and emergency medicine. ACOMEC strives to become a leader in the promotion, diffusion, and generation of knowledge in the areas of critical and acute care medicine, and to integrate this into clinical practice to improve the care for the critically ill in Colombia and South America. Further information can be found in ACOMEC's website at http://www.acomec.org.co In conclusion, ADQI XVI, “The Bogotá Consensus,” has resulted in a series of in-depth reviews of the topic of sepsis with a focus on defining targets for blood purification and other treatments. It is our hope that these papers will advance the field and spawn future research.