Investigating new anesthetic drugs to improve safety and effectiveness
Basic and Translational Research on General Anesthetics
This study is looking for safer and better ways to put people to sleep during medical procedures by exploring how different anesthetics work in the brain, using zebrafish to help find new options that could make anesthesia more effective for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11065523 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new general anesthetics that are safer and more effective for medical procedures. It employs advanced techniques to understand how different anesthetic compounds interact with brain receptors, particularly GABAA receptors, which are crucial for controlling consciousness and pain response. The study also utilizes zebrafish as a model to discover new anesthetic agents that may work through various molecular pathways, aiming to enhance the overall efficacy and accessibility of anesthesia in clinical settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing surgical procedures who may require general anesthesia.
Not a fit: Patients who do not require anesthesia for their medical procedures or those with contraindications to anesthetic agents may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of safer anesthetic drugs that minimize risks and improve patient outcomes during surgeries.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in developing new anesthetic agents, but this approach using zebrafish models is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Forman, Stuart a — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Forman, Stuart a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.