Major scientific challenges facing anesthesiology include identifying the means to prevent life-threatening and costly medical disabilities associated with the period surrounding surgery such as stroke, delirium, heart attack, arrhythmia, chronic pain, and abnormal bleeding. The Vanderbilt Department of Anesthesiology fosters the growth of physician scientists who are focused on translating emerging discoveries in basic biomedical research into solving these perioperative healthcare concerns.
The department is continually developing translational research programs, supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Veterans Administration, that capitalize upon Vanderbilt’s major investigative strengths in cardiovascular disease and the clinical genetics of complex human traits. Anesthesiology faculty are working in collaboration with the faculty in the Departments of Surgery, Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and Pathology to examine common genetic variants in the population that influence the risk of a host of perioperative morbidities, including blood loss, graft thrombosis, cardiac arrhythmias, pre-eclampsia, and pain. Many of these studies will set the stage for development of protocols and treatments to minimize the risks of surgery.
Our Principal Translational Science Investigators
Dr. Edward Sherwood
Dr. Frederick T. (Josh) Billings
Dr. Stephen Bruehl
Dr. Brian Donahue
Dr. Pratik Pandharipande
Dr. Mias Pretorius