Personalized Anesthesia: Understanding Individual Responses to Anesthetics
Personalized Anesthesia: The Role of the Locus Coeruleus in Individual Anesthetic Responses
This work aims to understand why some people have problems with anesthesia, like waking up during surgery or confusion afterward, so that anesthesia can be made safer and more effective for everyone.
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-11158606 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Millions of patients undergo anesthesia for surgery each year, but sometimes it doesn't work perfectly, leading to issues like waking up during surgery or experiencing confusion and memory problems afterward. This project explores why individuals react differently to anesthesia, even when receiving similar doses. By looking at specific brain areas, like the locus coeruleus, we hope to uncover the biological reasons behind these varied responses. The goal is to move beyond a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to anesthesia and develop more personalized care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant to anyone who undergoes general anesthesia for surgery, particularly those concerned about potential complications like awareness during surgery or postoperative cognitive issues.
Not a fit: Patients who do not undergo general anesthesia or those without concerns about anesthetic complications may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer anesthesia experiences, reducing the risk of waking up during surgery and minimizing postoperative confusion or delirium.
How similar studies have performed: While population-based approaches to anesthesia have been standard, this personalized approach is relatively novel, building on recent experimental and computational methods developed by the researchers.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mckinstry-Wu, Andrew Rich — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Mckinstry-Wu, Andrew Rich
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.