Understanding how patients wake up from general anesthesia
Official title: Mechanisms of emergence from general anesthesia
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11090283 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain proteins in the brain help people wake up smoothly from general anesthesia, with the goal of making recovery easier and reducing confusion or agitation after surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $108,850 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM146751-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11090283 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing procedures that require general anesthesia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require general anesthesia for their medical procedures may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the cellular mechanisms that allow patients to transition from being under general anesthesia to waking up. It focuses on how anesthetics affect the balance of excitatory and inhibitory signals in the brain, which can lead to unpredictable behaviors such as agitation and delirium upon waking. By studying the role of a specific protein called neuroligin-2 in mice, the research aims to uncover how these mechanisms work and how they can be targeted to improve patient outcomes during recovery from anesthesia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management of anesthesia recovery, reducing complications like agitation and delirium in patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific mechanisms of emergence from anesthesia are not fully understood, previous research has shown promise in understanding related processes, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heshmati, Mitra — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Heshmati, Mitra
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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.