New molecules that reveal how anesthetics work
Novel Molecules as a Window to Anesthetic Mechanisms
Researchers are using a modified propofol molecule to reveal how anesthetics affect the body and help make anesthesia safer for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252518 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses a propofol derivative (propofluor, or fropofol) that unexpectedly blocks propofol-induced anesthesia in small animal models to map the important molecular targets of anesthetic drugs. The team will run experiments in tadpoles and larval zebrafish and use biochemical and molecular assays to distinguish which anesthetic interactions are mechanistically important versus non-specific. By “reverse engineering” anesthesia with a blocking molecule, researchers aim to identify multiple protein targets that together produce anesthetic effects. The work is preclinical laboratory research conducted at the University of Pennsylvania and does not enroll patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not enroll patients now, though future clinical trials based on these findings would likely recruit people (adults and children) scheduled for elective surgery who need general anesthesia.
Not a fit: Because this is preclinical lab research, patients needing immediate anesthesia care or those not undergoing surgery will not directly benefit in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide the development of safer, more targeted anesthetic drugs with fewer side effects and narrower toxicity.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has identified the GABAA receptor as an important anesthetic target, but using an antagonist propofol derivative to reverse-engineer multiple anesthetic targets is a novel and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: White, Elizabeth Railey — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: White, Elizabeth Railey
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.