Anesthesia Research

Yale University and Yale New Haven Medical Center are among the premier research and training institutions in the country. As part of this rich tradition, the areas of research interest in the department of Anesthesiology encompass both “traditional” areas of anesthesia research, and new areas of science and medicine. Expanding and enhancing the research mission in the department is one of the top priorities in Anesthesia at Yale.

Among topics being actively pursued by our faculty, we have basic research in the areas of basic neurobiology, as pertain to perception of pain, touch and itch. Research in these topics spans the gamut from whole animal studies (including human), to fundamental molecular approaches looking at the gene expression patterns of single neurons that are involved in sensation. This research program complements a variety of other research programs in Neurobiology at Yale having to do with the central nervous system.

Other faculty members study topics in vascular biology, as it pertains to peri-operative outcomes and sepsis, as well as stroke and the regeneration of blood vessels that are damaged by injury or disease. In the area of vascular biology, we have ongoing studies ranging from Phase I clinical trials of novel agents that control endothelial inflammation, to whole animal studies of stroke and arterial regeneration, to fundamental molecular studies of vascular cell behavior. All of this work dovetails with various investigators in the Vascular Biology program at Yale.

Looking at the practice of Anesthesia wholistically, faculty members are studying the impact of complementary and alternative approaches to the peri-operative care of children and adults. The beneficial effects of careful pre-operative preparation of children, of acupuncture, and of other wholistic treatments are being scientifically studied by our faculty. This research area bridges to Yale’s outstanding research history in Child Psychiatry.

These exciting areas of research, in addition to many others, are part of the Yale training and clinical experience. Working together, we’re breaking new ground and forging new links in science and medicine.