New Benzoquinone-Based Sedative for Safer Anesthesia
Official title: Discovery and Development of a Benzoquinone Molecule as a Novel Anesthetic
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11590016 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Stanford-led study is exploring a new benzoquinone compound as a potential anesthetic that may work differently from current drugs and reduce side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $317,627 |
| NIH project number | 7R01GM148716-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11590016 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults undergoing medical procedures who could participate in future trials of new anesthetic agents or contribute samples for biomarker studies.
✕Less likely to help
Participants would not directly benefit from this early-stage basic science; translation to patient care would require further development.
What this research studies
Researchers are testing a small molecule in the 1,4-benzoquinone family to see if it can safely induce unconsciousness and amnesia by disrupting mitochondrial energy in the brain. They have preliminary data suggesting these compounds can cause a rapid loss of consciousness in mice by affecting mitochondrial membrane potential. The project will characterize how Ub5 and related molecules produce anesthesia and identify how they interfere with brain energy production. If successful, this work could guide the development of a new class of sedatives with potentially different safety profiles.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new anesthetic options with different mechanisms that might reduce certain adverse effects.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary mouse studies show that similar CoQ-analogues can induce unconsciousness, supporting the concept but requiring more validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levy, Richard J — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Levy, Richard J
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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.