Understanding how individual brain responses affect anesthesia outcomes
Personalized Anesthesia: The Role of the Locus Coeruleus in Individual Anesthetic Responses
This study is looking at how differences in a part of the brain called the locus coeruleus affect how people respond to anesthesia during surgery, with the goal of making anesthesia safer and helping patients wake up and think clearly afterward.
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-10888302 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how individual differences in brain function, specifically the locus coeruleus, influence responses to anesthesia during surgery. By focusing on personalized anesthetic care, the study aims to improve the reliability of anesthesia, ensuring patients remain unconscious throughout procedures and recover cognitive function more quickly afterward. The researchers will utilize advanced experimental and computational methods to analyze anesthetic responses in mice, which may lead to better understanding and management of anesthesia in humans. This approach seeks to address the variability in patient experiences during anesthesia, including the risk of consciousness during surgery and postoperative cognitive issues.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include patients undergoing surgical procedures who may be at risk for complications related to anesthesia, such as those with a history of anxiety disorders or cognitive impairments.
Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing surgery or those who do not require anesthesia will likely not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized anesthesia protocols, reducing the risk of consciousness during surgery and improving cognitive recovery afterward.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in personalized medicine approaches, but this specific focus on the locus coeruleus in anesthesia is relatively novel and untested.
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.